Wabash Soccer Gets Comeback Win Over Rochester
The Wabash boys soccer team pulled off a 4-3 comeback victory in another tough TRC battle against Rochester Tuesday.
Rochester jumped out to the early lead on some great hustle play by their front line. Rochester promptly doubled their lead as a second goal sneaked by Kolton Wilson who made his first start in goal. But Apache fight never dies and Wabash clawed one back when Andrew Dinkins fired a free-kick from about 40 yards out that went unchallenged into the net. The teams entered halftime with the Zebras up 2-1.
In the second half, Wabash stepped up the hustle and Rochester amped up the physicality of the game. However, that physical play backfired on them when a penalty was called early in the second half. Jacob France stepped calmly to the spot and picked his corner to put it away. With the game tied both teams tried to exploit the opponent’s defense. Rochester managed to chip the ball over Isaac Byers who had stepped into goal in the second half to earn their 3rd goal of the match. Despite that goal, Byers was a commanding presence between the pipes and ended the game with 7 saves.
The Apaches continued to chase an equalizer and found themselves with numerous chances late in the game. With about 6 minutes to go in regulation, Jacob France slipped a pass to a charging Troy Guenin-Hodson who fired a laser from distance into the far side of the goal. The game wound toward overtime and both teams kept pushing, but neither could find the winner.
In the first overtime, Wabash seized the momentum and continued to find weaknesses in the Rochester backline. As the first overtime expired, Guenin-Hodson hit another beautiful shot from about 30 yards out that glanced off the crossbar. In the second overtime, Kolton Wilson’s throw-ins we causing all kinds of problems for Rochester. Wabash broke the deadlock with just over 2 minutes to go when a Wilson throw-in fell to the feet of Jacob France who toe-poked the ball past the keeper as he was falling to the turf to get the victory.
Jacob France ended the game with 2 goals and an assist. Will Galley and Spencer Stout did a great job thwarting the Rochester attack. For the second game in a row, Ethan and Marcus Haynes played all over the field and were absolute wrecking balls againt the opponent.
Wabash is now 2-1 in the TRC and 2-2-1 overall. Wabash returns to action Thursday night as they travel to Caston to play under the lights for a 7 pm start.
