OAK HARBOR It was a good week for the M-P soccer team as the boys defeated Arlington 2-0 at home April 2 and followed it up with another 2-0 win two nights later in Oak Harbor.
In a bit of a change up, senior goalkeeper Jake Newman started for the Tomahawks in both games, while regular goaltender Kaleb Kuehn suited up in his traveling reds to play offense for Marysville.
Tomahawks head coach Gary Suits explained his decision as one of spreading around the opportunity to play.
These guys come to practice. On any other team (Newman) would be starting, Suits said, adding that Newman recorded shutouts for Marysville in the pair of matches.
After the win against Oak Harbor, Newman and Kuehn have combined to allow just 10 goals in the eight games the Tomahawks have played so far this season.
In the April 4 match, junior midfielder Nick Burdett got the Tomahawks on the board in the first period with what turned out to be the game-winning goal.
Secure in their early lead over the one-win Oak Harbor Wildcats, M-P used the opportunity to try new looks on the playing field by rotating through the player roster.
Everybody played about half a game, Suits said, adding, When we have a handle on a game, we try to put in other players.
Throughout the second period, the Tomahawks kept the Oak Harbor defense busy with several attempts on the goal, including a dramatic miss with about 18:1 remaining in the period.
At the 50-minute mark, sophomore midfielder Elwood Savon put the game away, notching the second goal with the assist from senior defender Chad Deaver.
With the Tomahawks midway through their regular season schedule, Suits reflected on the keys to the teams current 5-3 league record, which puts them in statistical tie with Cascade High School for third place in Wesco North. He noted particularly Deaver, junior defender Brian Nobach and junior midfielder Sayer Torkkola whose defensive play around the net have helped the Tomahawks come away with a 3-2 ratio of goals scored to goals allowed.
These guys are defenders who just dont get a lot of attention, Suits said. When youre solid defensively, you can take more risks.