By VINCE LOVERGINE
TopSports.news
Hayden boys soccer hit the pitch on Monday afternoon, wrapping up its three-game homestand to begin the season with a 2-1 non-league loss to Ottawa.
Joey Gartner's Hayden soccer team fell to 0-3 on Monday, but the Wildcats played their closest game of the season in a 2-1 loss to Ottawa. [File photo/TSN]
It's been tough sledding so far for 0-3 Hayden, which also lost a non-league contest to city rival Topeka West and its Centennial League opener to Topeka High.
The Wildcats have managed only two goals and allowed 13 in their three games, but took a step forward on Monday with their closest game of the season.
Hayden would strike first at the 32-minute mark after Aiden Roberts snuck in a pass inside the box to Riley Bartley to make it 1-nil.
“We did a good job of switching it to the side, they took it down the line, made a pass back, Riley was right there in the spot, got the tap in, his positioning was good and the cross was good, too,” Hayden coach Joey Gartner said.
Ottawa would respond six minutes later after a dump pass from beyond midfield that led to Josiah Mitchell, who struck with a header to tie it at 1-1 going into halftime.
With 20:48 left in the match, the Cyclones were deep in the box, the ball went off a Hayden defender which then landed on the foot of Quincey Lewis to make it 2-1.
“The effort was there. We were moving the ball well from side to side… couldn’t find any shots, the goalkeeper is really good. We made some mistakes, letting up two goals,” Gartner said.
Gartner was pleased to see his team jump out ahead in the match and said it’s good to see that early in the season from his group.
“It is positive," He said. “We just got to continue to work and hopefully by the end of the season we’ll be able to show off by regional and state time” Gartner said.
The Wildcats will face Eudora on the road on Tuesday (6:15 p.m. varsity start).
OTTAWA 2, HAYDEN 1
Ottawa 1 1 -- 2
Hayden 1 0 -- 1
Ottawa -- Goals: Josiah Mitchell, Quincey Lewis.
Hayden -- Goal: Riley Bartley. Assist: Aiden Roberts.
