On Senior Day at Avon Lake the Shoremen Boys Soccer team earned a 5-1 win over visiting Cleveland Heights on the strength of goals from 5 different seniors.
After a touching ceremony where the Shoremen’s 10 seniors and their parents were recognized and offered statements of thanks to each other, Avon Lake got off to a great early start. Junior Drew DelGiudice, the lone junior in the starting lineup, danced around a defender near the right end line before playing a tidy pass into the box that senior Charlie Krause roofed to make it 1-0.
Avon Lake would have several more chances in the next 20 minutes, but could not steer any of them home to pad the early advantage. In the 11th minute senior Cam Salco timed a nice run behind the Tigers back line and was fed a pass by DelGiudice, but his initial shot was blocked and his follow up attempt then went wide.
A minute later senior Andrew Jacobson made one of his trademark runs up the field from center back and DelGiudice played him through on the right side of the box, but his low hard shot barely missed wide to the left.
In the 21st minute DelGiudice again played a nice through ball, this time on the left to senior Kristof Nieschwitz, but his shot also went wide left.
The Tigers pulled one back in the 27th minute after their center mid picked up a ball central and found time and space to shoot from distance. His strike eluded senior keeper Dino Pietromica and tucked in the corner to even the score at 1 all.
A couple of minutes later Avon Lake had another great opportunity after senior Edison Lemanowicz did a header flick into space that Nieschwitz ran on to and dribbled toward the end line. He then hit a cross from the left but the Heights goalie made a sprawling save to corral the cross before it could be turned home.
The Shoremen took the lead for good in the 30th minute after Lemanowicz dribbled through the Tigers box before laying a pass off for Salco to slam home to make it 2-1.
Then in the 33rd minute Salco almost repaid the favor after he found Lemanowicz in the box but another great save from the Tigers goalie thwarted his attempt.
Lemanowicz would tally in the final minute of the first half, off a feed from DelGiudice, who played a ball on the right side that Lemanowicz got to and then held off his defender before calmly slotting his shot home to make it 3-1 Shoremen.
The second half started similarly as Lemanowicz got behind the Tigers defense off a long header by senior Michael Mandel, but he was taken down just outside the box as he loaded up to shoot. The referee played advantage as the ball rolled to Salco on the right side of the box, but his shot sailed over.
In the 50th minute Nieschwitz got a ball in the left corner and sent in a beautiful cross to the back post where Mandel was waiting, and he chested it down and scored a left footed volley to make it 4-1 Shoremen.
A minute later sophomore Zach Ramsey pushed a ball past his defender on the right flank and sent a ball into the box that senior Aidan Miller hit first time on net, but the Tigers goalie made a full extension save to keep it out.
Pietromica game up big in the 59th minute after Cleveland Heights got a player in one on one, but he quickly came out and timed his slide to block the effort and keep it 4-1.
Avon Lake’s final score would come in the 73rd minute after Nieschwitz intercepted a pass between Tigers defenders and dribbled into the 18 before laying a ball off that senior Colin Radca buried to make it 5-1.
With the 5-1 victory the Shoremen finish the regular season with a record of 13-2-1, 7-1-1 SWC. It is believed to be the record for most regular season wins in school history.
“Great way to end the regular season,” said head coach Pete Klepek. “We have 10 seniors and I’m happy we could highlight them and their parents today, and to earn a decisive win on top of that. Now it’s time to turn our attention to the postseason, we still have work to do.”
Lemanowicz’s goal and assist give him a team leading 17 goals to go along with 6 assists. DelGiudice’s two assists improve his team leading total to 10, while Nieschwitz”s two assists were his first on the year. Radca’s goal was his first of the season, while Mandel bagged his second, Krause his third and Salco his fifth.
The outstanding efforts of the Shoremen senior class has helped power Avon Lake on this historic run so far this season. Playoffs begin next week as the Shoremen will host the winner of 6 seed Westlake and 11 seed Lorain in the sectional final on October 20th at 7pm.
In their final match of the season the JV Shoremen earned a nice 2-0 win over the Tigers. Goals were by sophomore Tyler Johnson and freshman Aidan Folds. JV finishes their year at 11-1-4.
Story via Avon Lake VNN
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