Lakewood High School’s soccer team scored a victory in their first game for the fourth year in a row as the Leopards beat East Columbus 3-1 Wednesday night.
While the first half was mostly even, it was the second half where the game truly began to take shape. With 25 minutes on the clock, Lakewood pulled ahead, 2-0. Shortly after, another goal made it 3-0. With only two minutes left on the clock, East Columbus scored to avoid the shutout, bringing the score to 3-1 and leaving East Columbus.
Lakewood coach Jay Faircloth and the opposing coach Justin Furlow both gave words of encouragement to their teams, with both teams passing one another in single file exchanging low-fives with a “good game” muttered before the Lakewood team met in a huddle and repeated the Lord’s Prayer.
“I thought we did well overall, but I was disappointed and told them at halftime we had all these opportunities, but we’re not putting the ball in the net. So, I made a few adjustments in the second half and the chemistry started flowing — and that’s our biggest worry because it’s a young team,” said Faircloth.
When asked about some of the problems the team seemed to have with Alex Alvarado, Coach Faircloth gave a chuckle but had a practical but positive comment.
“Every team has somebody fast. My defense is either going to be fast or it’s just going to be defense. I’m not saying we’re slow, but one of the main things is teaching them to adjust to the players in front of us and see what’s going on,” said Faircloth.
“Anyone fast we’re going to have trouble with this year. Like I said, out of the seven I lost, three of them were on the defensive line,” the coach said.
Getting into more detail with the condition of Lakewood’s defense, he also praised the player leading that branch of the team.
“I’ve got a senior leading them, Eric Garcia, and he’s doing an amazing job,” remarked Faircloth.
Lakewood has a non-conference game Monday, Aug. 21, against Midway at 6 p.m.
