Sloppy Tie for Woodson Boys Soccer Start

Woodson played to a 0-0 draw with Westfield in a sometimes sloppy, nearly always physical season-opener for both teams Monday.

Six yellow cards were given and there were more than a few other hard tackles that could have warranted bookings. Both coaches admitted that their teams needed to shake off some rust, but overall were content with the performance.

Woodson controlled possession for much of the early going, and it didn’t take Billy Metzler long to get his name mentioned. The freshman made a nice move to intercept a pass but couldn’t quite get a shot off from 20 yards out in the second minute, and again had a chance in the 10th minute from a similar location.

“I think we need to get the ball out to him a little more and get him a little more involved,” Woodson coach John McAuley said of Metzler. “He’s got a lot of talent, he’s a very smart player.”

Bulldogs’ goalie Robert Marsters benefitted from a couple of hard efforts by the Cavaliers that went right to his body, but made perhaps his most impressive save when he dove to his right to snare a shot off a Woodson corner kick that nearly snuck through a crowd in front of the goal.

Westfield began to control the ball soon after, and Sergio Arzubiaga nearly gave the Bulldogs the lead in the 14th minute when he beat goalkeeper Adam Gordon to a ball about seven yards out, but couldn’t gain control quickly enough to get a shot off.

Westfield kept the pressure up early in the second half, as Arzubiaga had a decent left-footed effort blocked on its way through in the 49th minute, and Sergio Foronda sent a close range attempt well high in the 53rd minute.

Woodson’s chances were limited in the second half, and the Cavaliers’ only real threat came in the 63rd minute when a lead pass for Christian Keppler was just out of reach of his right foot for what would have created a one-on-one with Marsters from just outside the box.

The Bulldogs’ had two more efforts foiled before the final stages of the game were played mostly around midfield. The first came in the 73rd minute when David Rosales maneuvered inside the box to draw Gordon out before passing to Andrew Sanchez, who couldn’t connect on an open look from the right side. In the 78th minute, Rosales again found himself in front of the net, but put a volley just wide to the right.