The Boyd-Buchanan soccer coaches and players came into Thursday’s nondistrict game hoping to play the “revenge card,” as East Ridge had ended the Buccaneers’ season prematurely a year ago.
It took some calming down, but the Bucs got their wish.
Joey Glisson’s two assists in the second half helped them down the Pioneers 2-0 at Boyd-Buchanan.
The team came into the game wanting to exact revenge, but coach Jason Owens admitted they “didn’t play right” in the first half.
“I think we were a little overly aggressive to start,” Owens said. “The guys were wanting revenge and so were the coaches — this was the team that knocked us out — but once we settled in, we were good.
“We definitely wanted to win because of what happened last year.”
On the first goal, Glisson fired a cross into the middle, where after the ball was bounced around some, Taylor Shull got a foot on it and knocked it through with 22:59 to go.
The second goal started with a lead pass from Mason Wortman as Glisson outsprinted the East Ridge defense, kept the ball in play and tapped it into the middle. Ian Pilgrim scored on a one-touch shot for the two-goal advantage.
“I just do what I can,” Glisson said. “The coaches needed somebody to put the ball in the middle and set us up, and I just try to control the right side and be a man in the midfield.
“The coaches expect me to play a key role because I’m a senior.”
The two goals gave Boyd-Buchanan (9-1) all the breathing room it needed, as sweeper Ben Beasley and his defensive mates shut the door on any serious opportunities close. The Pioneers had one good shot, and Amel Sahbaz’s attempt from the top of the box glanced off the crossbar.
“We had opportunities,” East Ridge coach Jeremy McIntyre said. “We had a couple of close chances that could have evened up this game. We played well. I thought we dominated the first half, but they came right back and dominated the second.
“We’re starting to click some. We have a long way to go, but I tell the guys that nothing matters until the postseason. We’re going to take this one game at a time, but it’s all practice until the district tournament.”