TCA squeaks out a victory over Medford Tech

HAMILTON » After winning just one of their first four games this season, the Trenton Catholic Academy soccer players know things are not automatically going to go right for them unless they make them happen.

It may take some work, but the Iron Mikes have the desire they need as they displayed in a 1-0 win over Medford Tech Friday.

“We still don’t have a full roster,” second-year coach Christopher Dailey said. “We might not have enough (players) to overcome adversity as the season goes on. Right now, we are relying on so many freshmen.”

Presently, TCA has about 19 players listed. Of those six are freshmen, three are sophomores and at least two more came over when the girls soccer team at the school did not field a squad. That accounts for about half of Dailey’s club.

Yet, to watch them Friday, the Iron Mikes, while lacking varsity experience, did not give up much to a Jaguars team which began the day tied for second place in the Burlington County Scholastic League Independence Division.

After 48 minutes of scoreless play, it was one of the team’s sophomores — Ewing native Darwin Salguero — who put away the game’s only goal.

With a throw-in deep in Medford Tech’s end, TCA senior Alex Jaeploe turned on the ball and sent it into the goal area, where Jaguars’ keeper Owen Dobbins looked to make an easy leaping cover. However, the ball popped out of his grasp, and Salguero cashed in at the far side of the net.

“I saw the ball slip through his hands,” Salguero said. “It came down near my feet, and I kicked it in.”

Salguero joined the team as a freshman a year ago when his older brother, Brian, was a senior on the squad. Despite his young status, Darwin Salguero scored twice in 2016.

Friday’s goal was his first of 2017.

“I’m hoping to score more,” Salguero said. “We have to create plays up top, yet still go back and help when the team needs us. Right now, we can’t seem to connect. We can’t find the ball in the final third.”

Heads-up goals like the one Salguero scored against Medford Tech will go a long way toward helping that problem until the Iron Mikes can develop a more widespread attack and more midfield help.

“We’re still trying to figure out how to set our shape to be the most effective,” Dailey said.

By dropping Jaeploe and junior Loyalty Bush back on defense more as the game went on, TCA was able to make Sal- guero’s goal stand.

With senior backs Aaron Heller, Eric Perez and James Goll Jr. making life tough on Medford Tech’s forwards, their classmate, goalkeeper Jada Queen, earned a second shutout by making six saves.

The Jaguars had their opportunities. Midway through the second half, Nathan Venverloh cranked a 35-yard shot off the crossbar. With 15 minutes left, Queen made a diving one-hand save on a Dean Cubero 18-yard blast which seemed destined for the goal. Then, five minutes later, Queen tapped a cross by Christian Pilawski away from two players, then ran down the loose ball in the box to deny further trouble.

Medford Tech (3-3) TCA (2-3) Goal — Shots — Saves — 0 0— 0 1—

DSalguero (TCA).

6 (MT), 11 (TCA). Dobbins 9 (MT), Queen 5 (TCA).

0 1

DELRAN 1, NO. BURLINGTON 0 COLUMBUS» Pedro Flor scored in the second half for the Bears to spoil a six-save game by Greyhounds goalkeeper Kristian Slaby.

Delran (6-1-1) No. Burlington (4-3) Goal — Assist — Shots — Saves —

Flor (D). McLaughlin (D).

7 (D), 3 (NB).

Alves 3 (D), Slaby 6 (NB).

1 0

PENNINGTON 6, GERMANTOWN ACADEMY 1 FORT WASHINGTON, PA. » Ousmane Guyeye and Ibrahima Diop tallied twice as the Red Raiders rolled.

Diop added three assists, while Jared Panson had a goal with two assists.

Pennington (5-1) GermantownAcad. (2-3-1) Goals —

Panson, Guyeye 2, Albuquerque, IDiop 2 (P), Noe (GA).

IDiop 3, Panson 2 (P), Hackley

Assists —

(GA).

Shots — Saves —

6 (GA).

0 1— 0 0— 3 3— 0 1 —

12 (P), 4 (GA).

Pinado 2, Matson 1 (P), Werther

6 1