Randolph Boys Soccer Goes 0-1-1

By David Cooch

The RUHS boys varsity team has played its first two games of the season and has come up winless. The boys emerged from their home opener against Montpelier with a 1-1 tie, and lost to defending champions U-32 0-1. The team is looking much improved however, and was inches away from victory in both games.

The Montpelier Game

Randolph hosted the Solons on Friday the 31^st, and after 100 minutes of action no team had gotten the better of the other. The game featured many chances to score, particularly for Montpelier, but it was Randolph who struck first around the 30^th minute off a laser from Jon White, who was far and wide of the box. Randolph finished the half well defensively and was up 1-0 at that juncture.

Randolph and Montpelier continued to go back and forth, but eventually Montpelier was able to even up the score with a shot from outside the 18. Regular time ended knotted at 1 apiece, and the extra time failed to produce a change in the score.

The JV team won their match.

The U-32 Game

The Guy Ghosts traveled to U-32 on Tuesday, Sept. 4, where they squared off against the Division II defending champions. Randolph was instructed to start out the first 10 or 15 minutes with a defensive attitude, but quickly found that scoring opportunities were readily available for them.

Beau Handy handled the pressure well in the first half by making key saves. Late in the first half Randolph came out empty handed off a one-on-one with the keeper, but continued to pressure the Raider’s defense.

In the second half Randolph was allowed a brief celebration when a cross from White apparently found its way across the goal line, but it was cleared by a U-32 defender before its goal status could be confirmed. Finally about midway through the second half, U-32 scored off a shot from outside the 18. Though Randolph made some good attempts towards scoring the equalizer, they were unable to do so. The game concluded with the 0-1 loss.

The JV team lost 3-2.

Randolph is 0-1-1, and will play home against Northfield on Thursday the 6^th, and home against Peoples on Wednesday the 12^th. They would greatly appreciate your support.

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