CSAS Patriots win battle of local A, AA soccer powers [photos]

Howard's Neyder Gonzalez (16) pushes the ball downfield during the Howard vs. CSAS boys' soccer match Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences in Chattanooga, Tennessee. CSAS won 2-1.
Howard's Neyder Gonzalez (16) pushes the ball downfield during the Howard vs. CSAS boys' soccer match Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences in Chattanooga, Tennessee. CSAS won 2-1.

With 20 seniors, the Arts & Sciences boys' soccer team wants to make their last high school ride a special one.

Looking to go a step further after last year's run to the Class A state semifinals, Cole Avery hopes to help lead the way.

The senior center midfielder scored his sixth goal of the early season on a first-half free kick, and the Patriots edged visiting Howard 2-1 Wednesday night.

"Wearing the captain's arm band, I want all of our guys to enjoy this last season all together here," Avery said. "We have a strong defense and know how to execute our finishes. Hopefully we can go after the state championship trophy this season."

Cohesiveness worked wonders for CSAS (2-1-1) against one of the state's highly touted Class AA teams. While faced with a heavy barrage of shots, including eight in the first 10 minutes of the second half, the Patriots' defense held strong.

The Hustlin' Tigers (2-1-1) were led in the attack by Baltazar Yefri, who unleashed half of his side's 20 shots. Yefri and Neyder Gonzalez have 12 combined goals this season.

"I was impressed by the guys' tenacity to just keep at it," said Patriots assistant coach Wes Castle, who filled in for head coach David Poss. "Our defense did a great job finding the outside guys and working the ball back into the middle. Both keepers, Fisher (Latham) and Saylor (Ruder), did a great job, too."

Typically an over-the-top team, the Hustlin' Tigers could not run as much as they wanted to, playing on ankle-high thick grass against a formidable back line. Their goal came off a set piece from 30 yards out down the left sideline off the foot of DeLeon Humberto. The ball sailed over the keeper's head and smacked the back right of the net in the 50th minute.

After a match in which 50-50 balls went the other way and shots sailed all around the net, Howard coach Jose Otero addressed his promising team.

"We have the chance to be a state championship program, but we need to have more character, discipline and responsibility," Otero said. "We have to learn to keep our composure and fight back from a deficit. We have a team that will win a lot of games, but we have to all work together."

CSAS got off only 10 shots but put together high-quality chances, including a shot off the crossbar.

Versatile striker Asa Nichols boomed a corner kick off his left foot from the left sideline to find Will Fraser on the far side of the net for the knock-in. Fraser's score in the 72nd minute provided the difference.

"When Asa is on the ball, he is really deadly," Avery said. "He really gets our attack going and is a threat to give us a huge spark whenever he has it. I was proud of how we finished against a really strong team tonight."

Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.

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