A gloomy Saturday night at Wickliffe High School became even worse as the rain began to fall on an already shredded pitch.
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The Bison soccer team couldn’t care less.
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The rain seemed to have been brought on by a beautiful right-footed strike in the 63rd minute from senior captain Matt Levine, giving the Bison a lead which they wouldn’t relinquish. Brock Hersch went on to add an insurance goal.
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The Bison defeated the previously unbeaten Blue Devils on their own turf, 3-1.
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The field was nearly unplayable due to mud already slick with precipitation. Defense was the name of the game, and senior goaltender Blake Atherton brought his A-game. After senior Kaveh Varghai scored late in the first half to take a one nil lead, Atherton shut down the nets. Making save after save, he looked almost impervious but the Blue Devils managed to find a chink in the armor. After a questionable foul in the box, the Blue Devils scored their lone goal on a penalty kick to tie the game at one.
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Levine came back with his rain-bringing goal on the very next possession for the Bison. A few minutes later Hersch added his insurance goal after a misplayed ball from the Blue Devils.
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Senior David Stern said, “We knew we were playing an unbeaten team, so all the pressure was on them. We came out very relaxed and we just played a great game.”
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When asked about Levine’s go-ahead goal Stern said, “That was the most excited I have ever been during a soccer game. It was a very competitive game and it was huge for us to get the momentum back.”The Bison’s next game is Sept. 13 when they will travel to Painesville Harvey.
