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It was an important match between two of the best boys soccer teams in the Savannah area at Islands Stadium Thursday night as the Sharks hosted Jenkins with a spot atop the Region 3-3A standings on the line.
A battle-tested Islands squad took a lead into intermission off an own goal, and then poured it on in the second half for a dominating 5-0 victory over the previously undefeated Warriors. Islands improved to 9-3 overall and 7-0 in Region 3-3A play as the Sharks are in the driver's seat in the race to the region title.
Jenkins fell to 9-1 and 6-1 in region play.
"I was impressed with our resilience above all else," said Islands coach Justin Brantley, in his fourth year leading the program. " We stuck to our game plan and played to our style which is being very defensive and then countering quickly."
Brantley noted that the Sharks have played a rugged non-region schedule and their three losses included setbacks against River Ridge, the defending Class 6A state champion, and Lambert, which is currently ranked No. 2 among 6A teams.
It was a tight match in the first half until the Sharks scored in the 35th minute after senior star Evan Narvaez kicked one in that went off a Jenkins defender in for a goal as Islands led 1-0 at the half.
Five minutes into the second half, Julian Roma came in from the right wing and scored on a shot to the left post. In the 62nd minute, Narvaez converted a free kick in spectacular fashion as the left-footer blasted a shot from 50 yards out that curved left to right into the top right corner of the goal just above the outstretched arms of the Warrior keeper.
JJ Stein scored after a long free kick in the 71st minute by Alex Roma, and Narvaez scored his second goal of the night, and 22nd of the year, with five minutes left to make it 5-0.
Brantley said they have moved Narvaez from a wing slot last year to more of an up-top position.
"I think it's given us more cohesion in the midfield and the guys are finding Evan in space," Brantley said.
Narvaez has 22 goals and 16 assists on the season, and said the team, which came down a classification after winning the Region 3-4A crown last year, is poised to make a playoff run.
"Jenkins has improved a lot and their coach has them organized and playing well," Narvaez said. "They came in 9-0 with high hopes and we knew they wanted to it bad, but we wanted it more tonight. We knew their strengths and weaknesses and we stayed composed. As soon as we got that own goal, we put the pedal to the floor and kept going."
Jenkins is a much improved squad that has already passed the seven wins it had over the last two seasons with head coach Moses Green and assistant Samuel James leading a talented squad that includes Ahmed Abdalla, Luis Fuchu, Anthony Rodriguez and Eric Baquedano, who have combined for 40 goals on the year.
But the Sharks back line — featuring Zach Smith, Alex Roma, Langston Kana and Sid Johnson in front of senior keeper Wilmer Martinez — did a great job neutralizing the Warrior attack.
"We weren't moving around well enough," Abdalla said. "Islands passed the ball way better than we did and played better tonight, but we're going to learn from our mistakes and we'll be back."
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Islands boys soccer takes region lead with win over quality Jenkins squad
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A battle-tested Islands squad took a lead into intermission off an own goal, and then poured it on in the second half for a dominating 5-0 victory over the previously undefeated Warriors. Islands improved to 9-3 overall and 7-0 in Region 3-3A play as the Sharks are in the driver's seat in the race to the region title.
Jenkins fell to 9-1 and 6-1 in region play.
"I was impressed with our resilience above all else," said Islands coach Justin Brantley, in his fourth year leading the program. " We stuck to our game plan and played to our style which is being very defensive and then countering quickly."
Brantley noted that the Sharks have played a rugged non-region schedule and their three losses included setbacks against River Ridge, the defending Class 6A state champion, and Lambert, which is currently ranked No. 2 among 6A teams.
It was a tight match in the first half until the Sharks scored in the 35th minute after senior star Evan Narvaez kicked one in that went off a Jenkins defender in for a goal as Islands led 1-0 at the half.
Five minutes into the second half, Julian Roma came in from the right wing and scored on a shot to the left post. In the 62nd minute, Narvaez converted a free kick in spectacular fashion as the left-footer blasted a shot from 50 yards out that curved left to right into the top right corner of the goal just above the outstretched arms of the Warrior keeper.
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JJ Stein scored after a long free kick in the 71st minute by Alex Roma, and Narvaez scored his second goal of the night, and 22nd of the year, with five minutes left to make it 5-0.
Brantley said they have moved Narvaez from a wing slot last year to more of an up-top position.
"I think it's given us more cohesion in the midfield and the guys are finding Evan in space," Brantley said.
Narvaez has 22 goals and 16 assists on the season, and said the team, which came down a classification after winning the Region 3-4A crown last year, is poised to make a playoff run.
"Jenkins has improved a lot and their coach has them organized and playing well," Narvaez said. "They came in 9-0 with high hopes and we knew they wanted to it bad, but we wanted it more tonight. We knew their strengths and weaknesses and we stayed composed. As soon as we got that own goal, we put the pedal to the floor and kept going."
Jenkins is a much improved squad that has already passed the seven wins it had over the last two seasons with head coach Moses Green and assistant Samuel James leading a talented squad that includes Ahmed Abdalla, Luis Fuchu, Anthony Rodriguez and Eric Baquedano, who have combined for 40 goals on the year.
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But the Sharks back line — featuring Zach Smith, Alex Roma, Langston Kana and Sid Johnson in front of senior keeper Wilmer Martinez — did a great job neutralizing the Warrior attack.
"We weren't moving around well enough," Abdalla said. "Islands passed the ball way better than we did and played better tonight, but we're going to learn from our mistakes and we'll be back."
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Islands boys soccer takes region lead with win over quality Jenkins squad
Continue reading...
