TROJANS BOYS' SOCCER: Fairmont powers past Worthington boys’ soccer

FAIRMONT — The Worthington Trojans boys’ soccer team was unable to handle the pressure brought by Fairmont, losing 5-0 Monday in Fairmont.

“We went up and thought we could compete because of the way we’ve played in the last few game,” WHS coach Smitty Ektnitphong said. “From the beginning we did not look in sync with each other. Fairmont got us back on out heels with the pressure they were able to apply.”

Fairmont scored their first goal just three minutes into the first half on a failed clearing attempt by the Trojans’ defense. Fairmont’s Grant Becker picked up the goal on a one-on-one with Worthington goalie Kody Honius.

“We tried to clear the ball but we weren’t sure where to go with it, so we just cleared it away and the Fairmont player picked it up and had an easy play against the goalie,” Ektnitphong said.

Fairmont’s second goal didn’t come until nine minutes left in the half when Becker was able to sneak the ball past Honius once again.

The third goal of the half for Fairmont came with just under six minutes later, when Becker picked up a hat-trick after putting the ball past Honius for a third time.

“We couldn’t stand the pressure they were putting on us,” Ektnitphong said. “We talked at the half about how teams have done this to us before and we know how to fight back. But we just couldn’t get anything going.”

Fairmont outshot the Trojans 7-4 in the first half, converting on three of those shots.

“We had our chances, but we just couldn’t convert,” Ektnitphong said. “They were able to convert and that was the difference in the game.”

The fourth goal of the game for Fairmont came just under eight minutes into the second frame, but this time off the foot of Brock Johnson.

The final goal for Fairmont came at 18:20 in the second half from Oscar Scenfelz who was able to put the fifth goal behind Honius.

“Kody [Honius] did a wonderful job,” Ektnitphong said. “He did try to defend the goal the best he could. It is too much to ask of a goalie to do what he did.”

The Trojans were outshot again in the second half, this time 6-3.

“We had a shot that rebounded right out in front, but we just couldn’t put it in,” Ektnitphong said. “We are not a good team when it comes to finishing.”

The Trojans finally return home after a long road trip to take on New Ulm today at 6:15 p.m. at Trojan field.

“We have been on the road a lot over the last week or so,” Ektnitphong said. “And being on the road has not been kind to us lately. This home stretch will hopefully allow us to work up a rhythem and get back to our game.”

Trojans 0 0 — 0

Fairmont 3 2 — 5

Tags: sports, prep, trojans, soccer