Boys and Girls Soccer win big on Senior Night

Hillcrest 7, Wapello 0

Playing in warm and sunny conditions for the first time all spring required some adjustments, including hydration breaks each half and a few more substitutions. Similarly, it took the Hillcrest offense a while to adjust and recalibrate, but once it did, the Ravens scored 6 times in the second half to add to the 1-0 half-time lead for the final 7-0 score. 

In the first half the offense created numerous scoring opportunities, but after picking up an early goal from Diego Ramos in the fifth minute, couldn’t punch the ball home. Meanwhile the back line anchored by Grant Bender, Andrew Starr, and Bryce Bailey along with Seth Ours, Gabe Bruns, Oscar Felix-Calix and  Issac Lybeck, shut down most of the offensive chances created by Wapello, to keep the score at 1-0. Goalie Aiden Krabill notched seven saves to preserve the shutout. 

In the second half the Ravens offense found ways to finish their scoring opportunities. Eight minutes into the half, Jorge Canchola ran onto a ball from Ramos and outraced the defense to the goal. From there, Canchola calmly picked a corner and scored making it 2-0. Ramos notched his second goal of the night on an assist from Seth Ours, making it 3-0. 

Next up was Micah Gerber who over the next six minutes scored a hat trick, assisted three times by Grant Bender.  Bender finished off the scoring on a rocket of a shot from about 20 yards out on an assist from Collin Miller. 

The win moves Hillcrest to 4-3 in conference play and 5-6 overall. The Ravens return to action Friday night as part of the SEISC conference tournament. 

Before the game the Ravens honored two track seniors, as well as seven seniors and two manager’s for their contributions to the Hillcrest soccer program. 

Mid-Prairie 1, Washington 0

Girls at Hillcrest Academy play with our local public school district, Mid-Prairie. On Senior Night, our three Hillcrest seniors had an exciting finish to their last home game on pitch in Wellman. At the end of regulation, M-P and Washington were tied 1-1. The score held up at the end of two overtime periods, forcing a shootout which the Golden Hawks won 3-2.