NEW KNOXVILLE - Plenty of pressure led to a good result for New Knoxville as they defeated Lima Central Catholic 4-0 in Western Ohio Soccer League boys soccer action on Tuesday evening at Community Park.
The Rangers (3-3, 1-1 WOSL) spent most of the contest on the attack and had a high number of shots. They scored three times in the first half, then tacked on one for good measure in the second.
"We're a very aggressive team and so 50-50 balls or anything that's a tossup, we go at it. We are tough (and) we know it," said Coach Kaili Patterson. "This is probably the most shots we've taken in a game (30 total, 13 at goal). Offensively, we're getting there."
The Rangers held LCC to just nine shots on goal. Preston Rutschilling made seven saves and Zeke Shaw made two.
"We obviously won the game and at the end of the day, that's what matters," said Patterson. "A win's a win. It was kind of sloppy though. We've got a lot of younger guys that are filling in starting spots out there. We're just trying to learn how to play soccer.
"I've got a lot of athleticism, I just don't have a lot of soccer knowledge. We're really trying to work on our passing, how to move through defenses besides just dribbling with our head down or playing the long ball,"
After a few minutes of back and forth play to open the contest, New Knoxville got on the board at 36:02. Jay Schroeder sent a pass from the right side, and Favian Caiola booted it to the left corner out of the reach of T-Birds keeper Austin Craig.
Parker Jones made it 2-0 nine minutes later, as his effort from the left side bounced it. The keeper reached to make the save, but it skipped past and went across the line for a 2-0 advantage with exactly 27 minutes to play.
LCC tried to get some offense going late in the half. A shot by Chayse Helmig to the left corner was knocked away by Rutschilling with roughly three minutes to play in the half.
Just before halftime, New Knoxville drove down on the left side. They were able to draw the keeper out, and then catch him out of position. A pass from Caiola led to Schroeder putting one across the line with 27 seconds left to make it 3-0 at the break.
LCC held New Knoxville scoreless for first 10 minutes of the second half before Jones fired a hard shot from close range. The ball bounced off the goalie's hands and Schroeder was able to pounce, knocking in the rebound with 29:11 to go.
LCC was able to occasionally get control, but could not sustain any sort of attack.
"LCC from where they've been in years past, they definitely have more structure this year, which we saw when we went and watched them play on Saturday. So we knew it was going to be a tougher game than in years past," Patterson said.
New Knoxville is back in action Thursday, when they will host Allen East in a non-league matchup starting at 5 p.m.