West Boys' Soccer Trying to Keep Up Pace

In a span of less than two minutes, the Cherry Hill West boys’ soccer team showed exactly how dominant it can be when the Lions play with a fast tempo and a sense of urgency.

If the Lions can maintain that type of intensity for an entire game, the second half of the season could shape up into a special one.

“We pushed the pace, strung together a few passes, laid it off if we felt someone had a better angle and we found each other, and that’s what it came down to,” senior Chris Blandy said. “It was nice seeing that we could trust each other and knowing that we have people that can finish.”

Dan Walsh and Gabe Watkins scored 70 seconds apart early in the first half to give the Lions the only offense they needed in a 2-0 win over Olympic Conference foe Paul VI. Sean Mullarky needed only two saves to record his fourth shutout of the season.

“I thought the first half we played with a good sense of urgency,” Cherry Hill West coach Dan Butler said. “The pace was quick; we moved the ball well and moved off the ball. I think in the second half they started to sit on their heels a little bit. They need to keep the offensive pace going and try to go forward and play direct and quick.”

The drop in play over the final 40 minutes did not come at a great surprise, as Monday’s game was lumped between games against division rivals Cherokee and Bishop Eustace. Cherry Hill West defeated Cherokee, 2-1, last week and takes on Bishop Eustace Wednesday.

“(A letdown) is always a potential risk after a nice win against a Group IV school that has been playing well,” Butler said. “We have another tough test with a division game Wednesday. This conference is so tough that you have to come prepared every game to do your part if you want to be successful.”

“It comes down to just taking every game seriously,” Blandy said. “We came off a very tough game against Cherokee, where we rose to the occasion and were all engines go. It’s kind of hard to match that same intensity after that, but what it comes down to is treating every game the same.

"We can’t let up. We also have to be pushing and working harder.”

Watkins said its just a manner of bringing the same mindset into each game.

“No matter what team we are facing, we always need to stay focused,” Watkins said.

With Monday’s victory the Lions (5-2-1) have now won three in a row. Wednesday’s game against Bishop Eustace is a rematch of a contest won 2-1 by the Crusaders.

If Cherry Hill West can play with the type of urgency it showed in the opening 20 minutes of Monday’s contest, the players believe they can flip the script.

“We have a nice (streak) going now, we just have to keep pushing the pace and trust each other. South Jersey soccer is a team sport; it’s not about one guy going up and down the field. As long as we trust each other and work hard as a team, we will get the wins we need.”

“We know what we have to do,” Watkins added. “We feel like we should have one the first game and we are going to come out and take it to them (Wednesday).”