Beachwood Boys' Soccer Falls to Orange 1-0

One goal was all Orange needed against the boys' soccer team Saturday. The game was deadlocked in a back-and-forth battle where each team had their opportunities to break it open.

Orange, however, took advantage at the 19:05 mark in the second half when Simon Sugarman streaked down the right side of the field and created some space in Bison territory. Then he kicked a perfect crossing shot to the opposite corner of the net for what ultimately was the game-winning goal.

“We recognized a one-on-one match-up and got Simon the ball deep in the final third of the field,” Orange head coach Ryan MacRaild said. “Simon let his talent take over, he found a little space and made a good shot.”

The win brings Orange to 7-4-1 while Beachwood falls to 5-3-2.

“We were pressing and we gave (Simon) too much space and he punished us,” Beachwood head coach Brian Greene said. “He had other chances, but he punished us on that one.”

Sugarman just three minutes earlier sent a shot up the middle of the field, but Beachwood’s keeper Blake Atherton made a nice save, almost coughing it back up for an easy rebound shot. Atherton also made a great diving save with 17:25 left in the first half off a free kick when Orange junior Colton Kauffman sent a near-perfect shot toward the corner of the goal. Atherton prevented it from turning into a goal with a diving save.

At the end of the day, Beachwood could not capitalize on their chances.

“(The loss) is good for the boys,” Greene said. “We got a lot of the guys in the game. Hopefully this loss will give us some energy to take into the playoffs.”

Beachwood looks to rebound against Rocky River at 5 p.m. on Monday.