Solon boys soccer cruises to district semifinals

Saturday night in the 45 degree chill and a torrential down pour, the number one seeded Solon Comets men’s soccer team triumphed over Warren-Howland 3-0 in the district quarter-final.

The night’s weather started off nice and dry, and early in the game the play was even; however, once the rain came, so did Comet goals.

In the 13th minute it started pouring and the Comets took advantage of the first real chance that either team had to score. After a Solon shot was saved by the Howland keeper, the ball was deflected and it seemed as if everyone got a rebound chance, but finally senior center back Jacob Brent swooped in kicking the ball off the post and into the back of the net.

Barely two minutes later the Comets had their second opportunity of the game. Sophomore midfielder Jake Lynn snuffed the ball out of midair and headed it in, making it a quick 2-0 Comet lead.

Solon controlled the pace of this game and they also controlled the ball for a vast majority of the first half, as Howland never had a legitimate chance in Solon territory. Solon got one last opportunity in this half, but the very efficient Comet offense could not capitalize. Junior John Margheret got the ball on a breakaway, and after making the goalie miss, he fired it a little bit too far left. Going into halftime the Comets remained on top 2-0.

Early in the second half the Comets did not come out and sit on their lead, they added to it relatively quickly. In the 45th minute sophomore Jake Lynn did it again; he got the ball on a break away and fooled the goalie, making it 3-0 Comets.

It appeared the Comets took their foot off the gas. There weren’t any opportunities worth noting until Howland finally got their chance in the 65th minute. After a beautiful display of passing, Howland got off a beautiful shot, but senior goalkeeper and team-captain Will Meyer made an excellent save diving to his right.

About a minute later the Comets nearly struck again. They got a penalty kick but missed it off the right post. Fortunately for the Comets they already had all the goals they needed, as they smoothly sailed to a 3-0 district quarterfinal victory over Warren-Howland.

“Tonight’s win felt good, everybody did their jobs really well and it resulted in a nice win,” said senior goalkeeper and team-captain Will Meyer. “If we keep playing like this I don’t think there is a team that can beat us.”

The Solon Comets play in the district semifinals vs. the Brecksville Bees at Stewart Field, Wednesday October 28 at 7 p.m.