MILLTOWN — Saint Mark’s graduated several of its top scorers from last year’s boys’ soccer team, but through two games of the 2024 campaign, offense has not been a problem. The Spartans opened their home schedule on Sept. 10 with a convincing 5-0 shutout of William Penn, improving to 2-0 on the season.
This one was all Saint Mark’s, who controlled play from the jump. An early corner kick was unsuccessful, but that was just a precursor of things to come. Zack Burns (St. Mary Magdalen Parish) sent a header in on Penn goalkeeper Reysoth Quijano-Gomez about 10 minutes it, but it was stopped. A free kick just missed high as the chances kept coming, none closer than a shot off the post off a corner kick in the 21st minute.
Finally, Saint Mark’s broke through in the 25th. Gabe Arick (St. Eugene Parish, Primos, Pa.) sent a long through ball down the left side, where Justin Baxley tracked it down. His shot beat Quijano-Gomez to the short side to make it 1-0.
The Spartans would strike twice more in the first half. Brian McDermott (St. Mary Magdalen Parish) converted a penalty kick in the 30th minute after Trey Spohn was fouled in the box, and shortly before halftime, the Spartans put a nice corner kick together. Arick sent the inbounds pass into the box about 15 yards out, and Bradley Newcott drilled a header high into the net.
Both Quijano-Gomez and Spartans keeper Clay Swift were forced to make solid saves before the halftime whistle.
It was more pressure for the Spartans throughout the second half, and that finally paid off midway through. McDermott scored in the 60th, and Luke Podolak finished the scoring three minutes later. Brady Wrinn (St. Mary of the Assumption Parish) assisted on both second-half goals.
The Spartans had a 20-2 edge in shots, and they had eight corner kicks to none for the Colonials. Swift picked up the clean sheet. Saint Mark’s will host Brandywine on Sept. 17 at 3:45 p.m.
Quijano-Gomez had eight saves in the first half, and Brandon Rios-Saldivar stopped another seven shots in the second for the Colonials. William Penn (0-1) plays at Middletown on Sept. 12 at 3:45 p.m.
Photos by Mike Lang.
