The Washington Blue Lions varsity soccer team opened the 2019 season with a home match against Waverly on a very hot Monday afternoon.
Washington battled, but Waverly was able to come away with a 4-3 victory.
Waverly led 3-1 at the halftime break.
“In the first half we were a little bit sloppy,” Washington first-year head coach Joshua Moore said. “We were not sure where we were headed.
“In the second half, we kind of restarted,” Moore said. “We gave them a little motivation; kind of steered them in the right direction.”
Senior Grant Kuhlwein scored the hat trick (all three Washington goals).
Kuhlwein scored an unassisted goal in the first half.
“(The ball) was off one of their players and he was able to capitalize on the situation,” Moore said. “That was at about the 25-minute mark.
“The second goal for Grant, he actually took it in from the middle of the field and scored,” Moore said. “The third goal was assisted by Sam Schroeder.”
Garrett Dewees was in goal for Washington, totalling 10 saves.
“He had a very good game,” Moore said. “He made two very good saves.
“I was very pleased,” Moore said. “In the first half, we were kind of lost. But, in the second half they came together; they communicated. Our seniors and our captains motivated our team. They got the morale up and we were able to come up with two goals in the second half.”
Washington will play another team of Tigers, this one from Circleville, Thursday at home at 5 p.m.
