The Greeneville soccer team battled for 80 minutes on Thursday night and was able to take down Morristown West 2-0.
“I thought our guys came out and played pretty good soccer tonight,” Greeneville coach Jerry Graham said. “We fixed some mistakes at halftime and it was nice to get two goals in the final half to get the win.”
Both teams had their chances in the first half, but went into the break knotted at 0-0.
The Greene Devils finally broke through in the 54th minute. Emerson Hensley took possession and made a run into the right side of the box. As he approached the end line Hensley lofted up the perfect cross to Cristian Banegas. Banegas charged in from the left side and punched the ball inside the far post from six yards.
“Emerson worked hard all night and his hard work made that goal happen. He deserved to get a goal tonight because he played with so much effort. I was really proud of how they made that play work,” Graham said.
The goal proved to be all Greeneville needed on Thursday because the strong play of the back line kept the Trojans off the board despite some close calls. Weston McGill shut down everything in front of the frame, while Justin Banegas and Noah Culler dispossessed West on numerous occasions. In the middle of the field Samuel Gourley, Matthew Lindberg and Remi Elyze-Vital did plenty to control possession and the pace of the game for Greeneville.
“We’re missing two guys on that back line, but I was really proud of how guys came in and adjusted. It was really good to see these guys play with the chemistry they showed,” Graham said. “Weston did a great job communication wise. Both Keepers, James (Treptow) and Landen (Creech) did a great job communicating and keeping us poised. It was a good game overall by those guys.”
The night started with Greeneville controlling the pace and playing much of the first 20 minutes in front of its goal. Weston McGill had the first chance in the second minute when he headed a corner kick, but it just cleared the cross bar.
Shots from Gourley, Aidan Inscore and Banegas followed but none of them found the back of the net.
Over the final 10 minutes of the first half the attack shifted in the Trojans’ favor. That started with William Enamorado making a dangerous run at the frame in which he knocked the ball loose from keeper James Treptow. Justin Banegas was able to clear the ball to momentarily end the threat.
Morristown West was able to keep the pressure on Greeneville and got off five shot attempts in a three-minute stretch, but none of them beat the keeper.
Surviving the dangerous stretch and maintaining the shutout into halftime proved to be a difference maker in Thursday’s outcome.
“They were running five in the midfield and just kept pushing toward our goal. You know in those situations bad things can happen. But it was good that our kids were resilient and were able to withstand that and make it to halftime,” Graham said.
Greeneville got the last chance of the first half in the 38th minute. William Woolsey delivered a strong throw into the box and Gourley flicked it just enough with his head to find an open Hensley. Hensley had a good look from 10 yards, but his shot just missed the target.
The second half started with Greeneville going back on the attack. Gourley and Elyze-Vital sent long shots at the frame before Cristian Banegas found the go-ahead goal in the 54th minute.
Greeneville controlled much of the second half, but could not find another goal until the 78th minute.
Hensley came up the right sideline and worked his marker with a soft pass to Inscore who broke into the box. Alex Jimenez slid through Inscore’s feet to break up the run, but a penalty kick was awarded. Inscore pounded the free shot inside the post for a 2-0 lead.
Greeneville will be back in action at home on Tuesday against Grainger.
