Raiders fall to visiting Hornets

Columbia did its utmost Sept. 30 in a nonconference match with visiting Kirtland to make life frustrating for the Hornets in the attacking third.

The problem is, with a side that potent, the intention only worked for so long.

The Raiders dropped a 4-0 outcome to the Hornets, the fifth-ranked side in the latest Division III state coaches’ poll, who got a brace from Marko Cubela and a goal and an assist from Peter Vukovic.

Columbia employed a high backline for stretches in a bid to draw runs from the Hornets’ three-striker formation offside.

Kirtland settled in, though, to generate 12 shots on target and a decisive road result.

“Overall, I thought we did pretty well,” Raiders coach Matt Earls said. “At first, we weren’t really running that high line. I felt like we were tracking back and following them back. Their strikers are smart, and they were realizing it and pushing us back.

“I think, eventually, the coaches and the center backs made that adjustment and started trying to hold it up.”

Cubela opened the account for Kirtland (11-2) in the 15th minute, playing a bounce for a first touch in and left-footed strike.

The Hornets struck for a pair of goals before half to seize control of the match, with a Vukovic one-timer from the top of the box in the 37th and a Lance Dolovacky finish in the 39th.

The Raiders had a close call on a set piece in the 20th minute, but no one could get a touch to Karl Tallos’ nicely weighted free KIRTLAND 4, COLUMBIA 0 kick.

Columbia didn’t generate its first shot on target until the 70th minute. Charlie Simon, the Raiders’ senior goalkeeper who recorded five saves, was subbed out of goal and into the match as an attacker. His right-footed strike was saved by sophomore Anthony Svigel, making an emergency appearance as the Hornets’ goalie due to an injury to starter Tyler Banyasz.

The defensive-third play was solid down the stretch to not allow the match to get out of hand, as a Cubela strike in the 47th stood as the final margin. Logan Szuch came in for Simon and had three saves.

“For a team that we have, a lot of guys that are learning the game and don’t have the experience or the adjustments they had to make, overall I was pretty proud of the effort,” Earls said. “And I feel like that’s a good stepping stone as we start heading toward the playoffs.”

“Overall, I thought we did pretty well. At first, we weren’t really running that high line. I felt like we were tracking back and following them back. Their strikers are smart, and they were realizing it and pushing us back.”

— Columbia coach Matt Earls