.jpg "Harwood’s Teagan Drake (9) and Nicolas Cordova (21) watch as Cordova’s shot goes just wide of the Northfield goal.")
Columbus Day brought the Galloping Ghosts of Randolph High School to Harwood to face the Highlanders’ potent offense. The day was clear and crisp as the two teams took the field.
Harwood quickly began to set an up-tempo pace for the game. Harwood forwards Win Parker and Sam Boylan made a series of runs at Randolph goalie Joe Salls, who turned them away. Ten minutes into the game, Harwood senior Chase Johnson launched a blistering shot that hit the goal post bar. Ten minutes later, forward Teagan Drake gave Sam Boylan a nice give and go pass. Boylan got the ball right back to Drake who scored the opening goal.
Harwood quickly put together another one of their outstanding offense passing combinations as Drake got a leading pass to Boylan who one touch passed the ball off to Parker for Harwood’s second goal of the day.
With 10 minutes remaining in the half, Boylan had another rush down the right side and made a pinpoint pass to junior Scooter Randolph in front of the goal. Scooter blasted the ball past Salls for his first high school goal. The score was now 3-0.
Harwood was not done scoring for the half. A Randolph defender fouled Win Parker in the penalty area and Harwood was awarded a penalty kick. Sam Boylan took the PK and increased Harwood’s lead to 4-0.
The opening of the second half looked similar to the start of the game, with Harwood’s offense keeping the ball in the Randolph end of the field. Four minutes into the half Harwood forwards Drake and Boylan again combined for another goal. This time Boylan scored off of a pass from Drake.
At this point, Harwood coach Don Haddox began to take some of the starters out of the game and bring in substitutes. Four minutes later Drake added one more goal with a clean shot off of a pass from freshman Drew Platt.
As Haddox continued to sub and move players around, the play got a bit ragged at times. At one point Harwood’s Caleb Hoyne and Randolph’s Mackenzie Poirier were given simultaneous yellow cards for a little scuffle on the field and had to leave the game for two minutes. Harwood was able to keep the Ghosts from scoring and the game ended with a final score of 6-0. Harwood’s record is now 7-3.
The game stats, which are kept and compiled by Harwood’s assistant coach Mark Ewald, were: Shots on goal – Harwood, 16, Randolph, 1. Harwood goalie Lucas Russell had 1 save and Randolph’s Joe Salls had 12.
Upcoming Games
Harwood plays Lyndon at home on October 13, Thetford Academy on the 16th at Thetford and Saint Johnsbury in Saint Johnsbury, Thursday the 18th. All games are at 4 p.m.
