The Highland Scots boys soccer team met adversity with determination and prevailed, 5-2, at Loudonville on Saturday.
The Scots traveled for a noon kick with the host Redbirds, who took a 1-0 lead after an early breakaway was saved by a tackle that was called a foul, resulting in a PK for the Redbirds.
The 10-yard Loudonville shot hit the twine and made it 1-0 for the Redbirds, and soon thereafter, the Scots were forced to continue a player short (10 on 11) after a red card was issued. The Scots used this as motivation and hustled throughout to make up for the deficiency.
Fifteen minutes after the infraction, the Scots got on in the board into the net as freshman Malin Fichtner scored his first career goal on a shot from 30 yards out to level the match.
With about 10 minutes to go in the half, Caleb Hunter slammed a shot into the corner to put visiting Highland up 2-1.
Facing a second-half challenge, the Scots struck first on when Dylan Thomas finished a crossing feed from Zane Sheets to finish off a counterattack less than a minute into the second half. Sheets got on the board a few moments later, finishing off a cross from Hunter.
Freshman Austin Cleveland completed the Scots’ scoring with his first career goal on a long rebound he belted in. Adi Karya had five saves for the Scots, and the Scots got spirited and solid defensive play from sweeper Jack Chaffee, midfielders Ben Evans and Cody Thomas. In the offensive zone Hayden and Darren Styers kept the pressure on all game.
