One day after being shut out in their season opener against Dimond, Lathrop’s boys soccer team responded with a resounding 11-0 win over Bartlett (0-8 overall) on Saturday.
“Yesterday’s game against Dimond, we figured out as soon as we find ourselves, we can actually put together stuff and compete with a great team like that,” Lathrop first-year head coach Tre Matthews said postgame. “So just being able to actually execute and push the ball down the field like this is huge for our confidence.”
Lucas Naber scored in the opening two minutes, and fellow junior captain Elijah Hoop added another goal moments later.
Jaume Ripoll lofted a shot over the Bartlett goalkeeper midway through the first half for a 3-0 Lathrop lead, and he scored again later in the half. Hoop scored in the final minute of the half for a 5-0 lead heading into intermission.
Senior goalkeeper Brooks Rayburn scored on a penalty kick to open the second half, and senior Landon Manley later booted in a ball from close range that was originally deflected by the opposing goalkeeper.
Hoop cemented a hat trick just minutes later. Midway through the second half, Lathrop freshman Sean Palchikoff secured possession of the ball after a defender went down, and he took advantage by sending it in for a score to put the Malemutes ahead 9-0. Naber scored again with a high-arcing shot from just outside the penalty area minutes later.
Tayden Woodworth found the upper corner of the net for the final goal of the match.
“We started a little slow,” Matthews said. “We’re still looking for our identity and everything. As soon as we find it, we’re playing our best soccer. So we’re going in a good direction.”
The Malemutes return to action Tuesday, April 29 to play North Pole at 7:30 p.m. in their first match against a fellow Interior team.
Lathrop’s girls team played Bartlett earlier Saturday, winning 5-1 for their first victory of the season.
Contact Gavin Struve at gstruve@newsminer.com or 907-459-7544
