Though they’ve faced some tough matches, the RHHS boys’ soccer team remains undefeated so far this season.
The first game of the RHHS boys’ soccer team was against Brunswick High School after their original season opener against Statesboro was postponed. The final score was 0-0 after the RHHS team controlled and dominated the game but failed to score. Coach Robbie Flanders coached while Coach Wade Wright finished his basketball duties.
The work after the Brunswick game was evident as the Wildcats met Effingham County in the first round of the Wildcat Shootout at RHHS. The score was 3-0. Goals were scored by Campbell Berry, Ethan Vernon and Brian Wood. Coach Wright, seeing his squad for the first time in a game situation, was very pleased.
" I feel the effort level is there, but we are not as fit and sharp as we need to be at this point," he said. "These are things we can correct. Overall, we are much improved."
The second match of the tournament saw the Wildcats tie Calvary Day School 0-0. The lack of fitness training time was evident as the Wildcats were a step slow all night and missed a number of chances.
"Playing on back to back days is difficult but needed to improve fitness," said Coach Wright. "We have to learn to take what a team gives us and exploit it. Composure will be a factor in every soccer match. I am very pleased at the development of the backs and how we defend over the past three games."
The Wildcats have posted three straight shutouts.
The tie put the Wildcats into the Championship game with Savannah Christian who entered the match with a 15-0 win over Liberty County and a 1-0 win over South Effingham. The match went back and forth the entire 80 minutes with SCPS scoring first early in the game. That goal was answered minutes later with a goal by Campbell Berry off a Josh Biering assist.
The game remained tied until late in the first half when Brian Wood escaped the defenders of SCPS and put RHHS ahead at half 2-1. The second half saw a struggle at midfield with each team trying to gain control. SCPS scored first to tie the game at 2-2; however, the Wildcats stepped up their effort and changed to a 3-4-3 formation to create more attack and go for the win.
Late in the game, Nic Harris sent a Mitch Doud cross into the net to give the RHHS Wildcats a 3-2 lead. After a furious attempt to tie the game by SCPS, the Wildcats prevailed to capture the Championship of the Wildcat Shootout.
"Playing three games back-to-back-to-back on three nights is difficult," Coach Wright said. "However, it was a great opportunity to see the entire team play in highly competitive matchea. Having as much depth in our team as we are showing hopefully will translate into a very successful season."
The Wildcats will host South Effingham on Friday, March 6 at 7 p.m.