Gallery by Tina Laney
The boys soccer match Saturday between Woodrow Wilson and Spring Valley looked like a mismatch on paper.
Unfortunately for the visitors, that’s exactly how it played out on the turf at Paul Cline Stadium.
Controlling the match from the opening kick, the Flying Eagles launched 15 balls on frame with nearly half finding the back of the net in a 7-0 shutout win over the Timberwolves.
“They were really good today. There were things that we asked of them before the game and they went out and executed them really well,” Woodrow Wilson head coach Steve Laraba said. “There was good passes, good communication and some really good goals. I was really happy with everyone overall.”
It took the Flying Eagles 20 minutes to heat up in the rainy and cold conditions, but when they did, the boys from Beckley were red-hot over the final 20 minutes.
Jack Grimmett broke the ice with a blast just inside the far post. Less than a minute later, Coby Dillon knocked in a beautiful cross from Michael Fayiah for a 2-nil lead.
Harrison Eckley then feasted on a through ball from Jackson Quattrone in the 29th minute to push the lead to three goals for the Flying Eagles.
“This group plays well together and they play for each other,” Laraba said. “They want all of their teammates to do well. No matter who scores a goal, they are celebrating with them and for them. It is just a fantastic group of young men.”
Woodrow Wilson added a little more salt to the first half wound for Spring Valley when Ishmael Fayiah beat the halftime horn, scoring in the 39th minute off an assist from Cooper Bell.
Running players on and off the pitch all day, the Flying Eagles ran the Timberwolves ragged with their extensive roster.
“This is one of the deepest teams that I have had since I’ve been coaching at Woodrow. The substitutes are not just out there to give the starters a break. They are brought on to change the game,” Laraba emphasized. “We want them to be the type of player that can come in and offer something different or more dynamic. They do a really good job with that.”
The home team did not relax and added to the lead three minutes into the second half.
Jackson Gray launched a blast that could not be controlled by the Spring Valley keeper and Eckley was there to clean it up for a 5-0 advantage.
Andrew Gwinn added to the scoring frenzy in the 54th minute and Dillon scored his second goal three minutes later, with an assist from Andrew Wright.
Along with its scoring prowess Saturday, Woodrow Wilson was again stellar on the defensive side, not allowing the Timberwolves a single shot on goal.
The Flying Eagles controlled the JV contest as well with a 6-0 win and did not allow a shot on goal in the early contest either.
“The starters know that the second team is going to push them and the second group knows that the JV guys are going to push them,” Laraba said. “It is really great to see. They are all holding each other accountable in positive ways.”
Andre Wright scored two goals in the JV match, while Ayden Stafford, A.J. Bishop, Jackson Gray and Drake Worley had one goal each.
The win over Spring Valley was the second triumph of the week for Woodrow who beat St. Albans 2-0 Thursday.
Jackson Grimmett and Michael Fayiah each had a goal for the Flying Eagles in the win over the Red Dragons.
Woodrow Wilson (8-1-3) visits regional rival George Washington Tuesday.
