Boys Soccer: Greeley Off to Hot Start

Greeley

The Quakers have gotten off to a 4-0 start and its coach, Adam Borman, attributes that to their team chemistry and being able to play together as one unit.

The Quakers certainly did that last week as they won two games, a signature 6-2 triumph against visiting Keio Sept. 19 before blanking host Harrison two days later 5-0.

Starting off the week against Keio with that type of resounding win was huge for the Quakers.

“It showed us where we are so far as a team,” Borman said. “They just played Byram Hills (last year’s Section 1 Class A champ) the game before us and beat them.”

Greeley then made sure not to let down in its game against Harrison.

“That’s big,” Borman said. “You can never get complacent. Every game is a different game, every day is a different day. That is how we are approaching it so far. Harrison is a good team, so we had to come out, bring it and not let them back in the game.”

One reason why the Quakers kept Harrison from getting back in the game is because of their relentless defense, a defense that has been able to frustrate opponents so far this season.

“We are getting back on defense which is helping,” Borman said. “We have a strong defense. We can play a couple of people off the bench who can help out. We try to have the ball more so we can have possession and the other team doesn’t have it. That helps too.”

What also helps is having an offensive attack that is meshing nicely, as evidence by scoring 11 goals in its last two games.

“We are just working together very well, knowing where each other is on the field at each given moment and finishing,” Borman said. “It comes down to putting it in the net. Most teams get a lot of opportunities but you have to put it in and right now we are.”

Fox Lane

The Foxes have not gotten off to the start that they thought they would get off to as they have lost six of their first seven games.

One of their bright spots had been goalie Michael Gourd. Gourd made 13 saves in a 1-0 loss at Alexander Hamilton Sept. 19 and eight saves in a 5-0 loss to visiting Byram Hills two days later.

“He has kept us in a lot of our games,” Fox Lane coach JR Pouncey said. “But unfortunately as I told the guys if you give a team that many opportunities to score, eventually we are going to give something up and we haven’t been able to balance it out with our attack.”

What is also unfortunate for the Foxes is that Gourd got hurt against Byram Hills in the beginning of the second half. Pouncey said that he is out for a couple of weeks with a shoulder injury.

“He has been great,” Pouncey said. “The close games we’ve had, he is the reason why. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to capitalize on our opportunities in the attack.”

While losing Gourd is a big loss, Pouncey is confident that his replacement Nick Shkreli will do a solid job until he returns.

“Nick has got good hands, he’s very athletic, he can cover the entire goal,” Pouncey said. “He’s a smart player, he can read the game well.”