Hardy, Seager get Wheaton Academy started
Sophomore Ty Seager broke a scoreless tie midway through the second half to lift visiting Wheaton Academy to a 3-0 victory in Monday’s nonconference match at Wheaton North.
Senior Sam Hardy assisted on the game-winner with 18:51 remaining.
As the season has progressed, Hardy and Seager have developed into quite a scoring threat. The pair had their fair share of scoring chances before Seager finally deposited one into the back of the net.
“He’s just a big, fast kid and I know if I play the ball to the corner, he’ll work his heart out to get the ball there,” Hardy said of Seager. “I can hear his voice, but I know he’s there anyway. He always makes that run 10 out of 10 times so I never have to worry about playing the ball to nobody.”
Senior Jacob Fernandes gave the Warriors (10-2-1) some breathing room when he scored with 4:56 left. Junior Grant Rougas joined in on the fun with 1:29 on the clock to make it 3-0.
“After we got that first goal it opened things up and then we outworked them until the end,” Fernandes said. “Casey Zimmerman crossed the ball perfectly to me and he’s a great crosser. I just started from the top of the box, ran near the far post and jumped up and headed it, just hoping that it went in and it did.”
An inability to score continues to plague a Wheaton North squad, which once again was within striking distance before the match got away.
Wheaton North (3-8-1) has only scored twice in its eight losses while being shut out six times.
“I thought (Wheaton North) was organized and had a clear strategy in how they attacked,” Wheaton Academy coach Jeff Brooke said. “It took us awhile to get used to that, and I’m proud that our center backs recognized that strategy and hung in there to try to wear them down in the course of 80 (minutes), because it took us awhile to get our first (goal).”
Wheaton Academy senior Zeb Lewis was helped off the field by Brooke late in the second half when he reinjured his ankle. It’s an injury that’s plagued Lewis in recent matches.
As part of homecoming week festivities, the Falcons recognized their seven seniors by hanging posters of Nathan Atkinson, Sam Beasely, Jackson Duncan, Nermin Isic, Alex Jiskra, Connor Ritchie, Jeremy Stapleton near the entrance to Rexilius Field. The Falcons have two remaining home contests.