Boys Soccer: Kilties Prolific Offense Takes Down Thunderbolts

Mount Pleasant's boys soccer team traveled to Cranston Stadium on Thursday afternoon to take on the Thunderbolts from Cranston East. The Kilties speed and athleticism was on display throughout the game and they won it 7-3.

Because of the surface at Cranston Stadium, artificial turf, the ball moves faster  and the pace of the game is quicker when compared to playing on grass. It favors a team that possesses speed because they can easily play at the pace they want.

Mount Pleasant set out to make it a track meet from the start. Their ability to play through balls and one-two combinations propelled them to an easy victory. The Kilties had several players who are able to control the ball and release it quickly, finding open teammates and moving the ball up the field quickly.

"They thrive on this type of the field," Mount's head coach, Jim Peters said, "We have skilled players with the ball at their feet."

Only a minute into the game, the Kilties put themselves in the lead. Co-captain Kelvin Morales headed the ball in the penalty box, after a free kick, but East's keeper, Zachary Loeum, made the save. Kilties junior Derek Marroquin buried home the rebound opportunity, giving Mount a 1-0 lead.

In the fifteenth minute, a fantastic goal was scored by Thunderbolts freshman Dennis Vasquez. He lofted the ball from midfield and it found the back of the net. The ball traveled sky-high in the air and fell just under the cross bar, tying the game at one.

About ten minutes later, the Kilties re-claimed the lead. Geiby Ramirez played a through ball to junior Jarin Rosales who chipped it in the air over the goalie's head.

The Thunderbolts responded immediately, scoring 45 seconds later, tying the game at two. Freshman Joshua Reyes streaked down the field on the breakaway and Diego Cruz, the Kilties goalie, came out to challenge him. Reyes crossed the ball in the middle and Bolts senior Chris Fernandes buried it into the wide open net.

The Kilties offensive attack was based on quick touches and playing through balls. They made crisp passes and limitied their dribbling, letting the ball do the work. One of the oldest sayings in soccer is, "The ball can moves quicker than anyone on the field."

In the 33rd minute, Mount took the lead again, as Rosales played a long ball up from deep inside the Kilties defensive zone and co-captain Edwin Jorge ran onto it in the middle of the field. Jorge had a breakaway and finished the play.

Only a minute later, the Kilties put another in the back of the net. Rosales stole the ball and fed Jorge, who blasted the shot upper 90, giving upping the lead to 4-2.

Rosales picked up his third assist of the first half when he took a corner kick with about two minutes left in the half. Morales received the ball inside the six yard box and gave Mount a 5-2 lead. They scored three goals in the final eight minutes of the first half, changing the complexion of the game.

The Thunderbolts would not go down without a fight and cut their deficit to 5-3 about ten minutes into the second half. Reyes fired a shot with his left foot and it beat the keeper far post.

However, the Kilties made sure their momentum would not last. Geiby Ramirez fired a shot from the top of the box and their lead was back to three goals, at 6-3. Rosales dished the ball to Ramirez five minutes later, and after Ramirez beat the keeper, the lead was extended to 7-3.

Rosales finished the day with a goal and four assists and Ramirez had two goals and one assist. 

Peters raved about Rosales' performance. "It was a great performance by him and he is one my highly skilled players," he said.

Late in the game there was some controversy and the game became physical. East's Vasquez was fouled hard on the right sideline, near the Thunderbolts bench. He remained down for a long period of time and was taken away on a stretcher. Vasquez had an ankle injury, but after reporting to the hospital he learned it was not broken.

During the break in the game, the Mount Pleasant players were speaking in Spanish. Some Cranston East fans noticed and picked up on what they were saying. Both benches began to argue and the refs tried to step in the middle.

Once the game began again, East's Kyle Correia, fouled a Mount Pleasant player, with no intent on making a play on the ball and was given a red card. He will be suspended for their next game. Another red card was given to a Bolts player, but the game would end with no more drama. The Thunderbolts remain winless and Mount Pleasant improves to 3-9.