Applying the pressure early and often Thursday night, Columbus East wasted no time putting visiting Jennings County into a hole scoring within the opening three minutes.
The Olympians would not allow the Panthers to sniff a goal throughout the night en route to a 3-0 Hooiser Hills Conference victory.
Eric Stiles sent a pass from the right side of the box onto Antony Espinoza’s foot that found the net in the third minute, giving East an early lead. Ten minutes later, Rick Sanchez tapped a pass out to Jorge Nieto from a corner kick. Nieto took a few dribbles to his left sending a rocket shot into the net with his left foot from outside the box, extending the Olympian lead.
“We were able to work really hard off the ball allowing us to keep possession,” East coach Brad Barber said. “We have been preaching all season to be more greedy in the attacking third and take more shots. I was proud of our boys continuing to be more aggressive.”
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The Olympians (5-5, 2-2) were held scoreless the remainder of the first half, but were able to put 10 of their 15 shots on goal.
“I thought Columbus East just really punched us in the mouth in those first 20 minutes,” Jennings coach Brad Morris said. “We just couldn’t get any passing going. It’s one thing we really try to stress. They really took our passing away from us. We were very lazy at times I thought in our movement.”
The Olympians kept the pressure on throughout the second half, putting another goal on the board in the 56th minute. Christopher Quisenberry made a run down the right side, sending a cross barely hovering off the ground into the box. Nieto was waiting in front of the net to tap it in for his second goal of the night.
The East defense was the biggest factor in the shutout victory, holding the Panthers (1-11, 0-4) from taking a shot the entirety of the match, making it an easy night for goalkeeper Zach Roberts.
“I thought our defense did a very good job of shutting them down. I have to give a lot of credit to Kyle Pittman and Daniel Boggs, our two senior center backs. Those guys have been rock solid for us the entire year,” Barber said.
“I think communication it was really led it,” Boggs added. “I make sure I am constantly talking to my players and making sure we know who is stepping to the ball. I feel like the more I talk the easier it is on the back line.”
Dreagen Ison recorded 14 saves for the Panthers.
