By Thomas Sellers Jr.
Soccer is challenging enough with the 11 on 11 format.
But through observance and word-of-mouth, Millington Trojan Soccer Coach William Carter knew the Haywood Tomcats would try to create an advantage going 14 vs. 11. The Tomcats entered the District 15-2A Tournament championship game with a reputation for trying to talk the officials into calls.
The strategy worked in the semifinals against Covington earning Haywood a trip to Hornet Field to battle the district regular-season champions Millington Trojans for the title.
Carter and his colleague Rosemary Boswell had their Trojans ready mentally and physically earning the district tournament crown 2-1 over Haywood.
“It’s really big step for us because we had a goal coming out here playing against Fayette-Ware to get a win against them,” Carter said. “We felt pretty good and we knew coming into this game against Haywood that they were a lot better than they showed the first time. That was a mud bowl. They got frustrated with themselves and we kind of saw some of that today.”
In the opening minutes the Tomcats controlled the tempo and possession of the ball. The action was near the Trojan goal for more than 10 minutes.
“Actually our captains noticed it first with Andres (Garcia) and Colby (Goode),” Carter noted. “They were getting man-marked. In some cases it was double man-marked. The other team was focusing on them being the scorers. We had to let them know we have other people who could score.
“So we started drawing in double defenders and feeding the inside,” he added. “That’s what gave Mauricio (Luna) a lot of looks, Chase (Michael) some looks and Timmy (Aderinoye) a lot of looks. That’s what has helped us out a lot.”
Michael scored the first goal of the contest gaining possession of a breakaway. The freshman raced ahead of the two defenders and evaded the Tomcat goalie for a chip-in shot into the net.
Millington’s advantage grew to 2-0 early in the second half when Aderinoye crossed a shot past the goal.
The Tomcats cut the deficit into half with a penalty kick. Then the remaining 25 minutes of the game the Trojans came close to multiple goals off the foot of Aderinoye, Goode, Gaspar Rodriguez and Luna.
Haywood’s goalie made a few athletic saves giving his team a chance to deadlock the game. But the Trojans limited the Tomcats opportunities and won the championship earning homefield advantage for Regionals.
Carter noted his group of seniors have earned this chance at Sub-State and State with years of hard work and knowing each others’ idiosyncrasies. The seniors are Colby Goode, Gabe Malone, Andres Garcia, Timmy Aderinoye, Kenji White, Milton Yarbrough, Eli Roberts, Leo Flores, Luis Carrillo Reyes and Gaspar Rodriguez.
“They are just really good at know the game of soccer,” he added.
Carter said it is likely the Trojans will run into Haywood again in order to earn a home game in Sectionals.
“They’re going to be hungry,” he said. “I knew they would come and try to get some PKs. They’re very vocal and they are a good team. They’re very scrappy. But that’s seem to be a part of their game plan try to get into the referees heads and draw some penalties in the box.
“That’s how they go their first goal against us in the first game and how they go their goal today,” he concluded. “They got two on Covington that way. So we have to be cognizance of that and not get drugged down and drawn into a game of in-fighting. Just play a good keep away game and possession game.”
