Coming off back-to-back multiple goal scoring wins, the Beckley boys soccer team welcomed undefeated Brooke to Paul Cline Stadium Saturday morning.
The Bruins opened the season with a 10-2 thrashing of John Marshall before earning a 1-nil decision over Princeton Friday night in Mercer County.
Even though the visitors faced a quick turnaround with an 11 a.m. kick against the Flying Eagles, Brooke was up to the challenge.
On a day where Beckley did not put forth its best effort and scoring was more problematic, a goal from sophomore Coby Dillon and a solid defensive effort were enough to escape with a 1-nil win.
While the win was the ultimate goal naturally, Beckley head coach Steve Laraba was left a bit frustrated with the way his team played Saturday.
“I think we played good for about 35 or 40 minutes total. When we did that we were great. We created chances and we weren’t giving up the ball. Brooke couldn’t get on the ball,” Laraba said. “Then we would have breakdowns through communication. Right now that seems to be our thing. If we would just talk a little bit more.”
The first half was played to a scoreless draw with the Flying Eagles having two shots on goal against one for the Bruins.
After dodging a golden opportunity on a set piece for Brooke who missed on a header near the far post, Beckley took advantage of a mistake for the eventual game winner.
“I can’t complain about my team. We worked hard, especially after we had a hard fought match last night,” Brooke head coach Joe Pepe said. “They left it all on the field, but we made a mistake and they capitalized on it. Other than that I thought we controlled the game just as well as they controlled the game back and forth.”
In the 44th minute, Dillon made the Bruins pay with some nice footwork, beating the keeper just inside the far post.
The goal seemed to be the boost that Beckley needed who peppered Brooke keeper Chance Brozstek with good looks over the next several minutes of play.
“I thought that we were going to get another. We created some good chances,” Laraba said. “We actually had communication as to where we were going to be and what we wanted. The keeper just made some excellent saves.”
Brooke had chances, especially later in the contest on set pieces, but the Bruins could not break through the Beckley defense.
“They were good on them and we knew that,” Laraba said. “They didn’t score on them, so we did a pretty good job as far as that was concerned. It is something though that we will continue to work on and get better at.”
Pepe did admit that not being able to convert on any of the set piece chances Saturday was frustrating.
“We did have chances and those are things we have to go back and work on. We have to focus on the good and work on the bad,” Pepe said. “I will look at the film tomorrow when I am relaxing and go back to the drawing board Monday. Take nothing away from Woodrow Wilson, they have a great team.”
Beckley keeper Bryson Doss recorded the first solo clean sheet of his high school career to secure the victory.
The next challenge for Beckley comes Friday at 5 p.m. at Paul Cline Stadium when the state runner up from last year, Spring Mills, comes to town.
