Spartans Boys Soccer Score Five on Senior Night

The West Springfield Spartans came in to Friday night’s contest having won six straight games, while their opponents, the West Potomac Wolverines, were amidst a six game losing streak. After taking an early 3-0 lead, it looked as if the Spartans would cruise to an easy victory, but the feisty Wolverines gave them all they could handle, pulling to within a goal late in the second half. However, a goal from leading scorer Jannik Eckenrode in the final minute secured the 5-3 win, and three of the five graduating Spartans scored a goal on senior night.

“We didn’t play as well as we have been the last week or so, but it was good to see the seniors win tonight,” head coach Andy Saffran said afterward. “They are a hard working bunch, and although we’re a junior heavy squad, the guys really look up to them.”

It was evident from the opening kickoff that the Spartans would look to run their attack through Eckenrode, as the talented central midfielder got involved in immediately. A minute into the match, his bent shot a long shot to the far post that was barely parried wide by the Wolverine keeper. Teammate Patrick Burns looked to one-up Eckenrode on the ensuing corner when the ball rolled out to his feet just outside the box. Burns coraled the ball and a curved a shot of his own off the underside of the cross bar and into the back of the net, as the Spartans captured the lead just three minutes in.

West Potomac looked to answer right away but could only muster a series of half-chances before Eckenrode got the ball with room against the run of play. The junior captain streaked down the left side before beating his defender on the end line. Although he couldn’t sneak it past the Wolverine keeper, senior Shahey Tenkerian was there to put home the rebound and extend the Spartan lead. 

“He hasn’t played as much for us this year, but he’s a hustler.” Saffran said of Tenkerian. “I was glad to see him score, he really deserved it.”

That lead would soon become 3-0 as senior captain Wais Ansary converted on a breakaway in the 30^th minute. His first shot was deflected, but the persistent striker hammered the rebound into the roof of the net for his 4^th goal of the year. The Wolverines pulled one back just before halftime, but West Springfield went into the break with a comfortable 3-1 lead.

The lead would briefly get much less comfortable, as a mix up in the first minute of the second half led another West Potomac goal. However, a swift response came from the boot of Josh Macnamara, who cracked one in from just outside the box less than minute later. The Wolverines threw waves of attacks to get back into it, and pulled back to within a goal in the 73^rd minute. 

“We got into our comfort zone and got too casual with soft passes and lazy clearances,” Saffran explained.  “You can’t do that and continue to be successful.”

West Potomac earned a corner kick with 3 minutes left, but the resulting header missed the target.  The ensuing goal kick was flicked on to a streaking Eckenrode who made no mistake about it, sealing the deal with a beautiful one-on-one finish in the final seconds. 

The win keeps the Spartans on pace for the district title, however they will need to pull back from a 1-0 deficit in a half played game against Annandale to resume next week.

“We were looking great a week ago,”  Saffran said.  “We just need to refocus and get back to basics.”