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BOYS SOCCER: Joplin blasts way past Monett 8-1

By:
Lucas Davis

Joplin boys soccer scored three goals in the first half to build a two-goal advantage before pulling away from Monett 8-1 on Thursday at the JHS Athletic Complex.

Joplin’s Adam Montanez passes the ball early in the first half of Joplin’s win over Monett on Thursday. Photo by Israel Perez.

The Eagles, who improved to 5-2 on the season with the win and host Cassville on Monday, went into halftime with a 3-1 lead even though they technically scored every goal in the half. Joplin added five more goals in the second half to go along with a shutout on the defensive end en route to the win.

“We knew Monett was going to be a well-coached team and they were going to have a clear idea for us,” Joplin coach Josh Thompson said. “We talked about coming out strong, and I think we had a good first goal before we got down a little bit and gave them an opportunity. The buildup play we had to generate the last two goals in the first half was a lot of focus for our guys. … We have been a strong second-half team lately, and they showed that today. We were able to come out with our best selves in the second half.”

The Eagles took the early advantage over the Cubs when Luis Cordova found Adam Montanez for a goal in the 17th minute for a 1-0 lead.

“(Scoring quickly to open the game) has been really big for us, but every time we’ve done it we have let in a goal just as quickly afterwards,” Thompson said with a laugh. “Maybe I’ll tell them to slow down a little at the start. … But, that play was beautiful to watch. That was stuff that we have been working on for years and they are putting it together at the right time.” 

Joplin’s Luis Cordova clears the ball during the Eagles’ win over Monett on Thursday. Photo by Isarel Perez.

Monett tied the game at 1-1 when Joplin was victim of an own goal in the 28th minute. The Eagles responded with a goal on a free kick by Ely Montanez in the 38th minute before a Luciano Reyes goal with 22 second left in the first half sent Joplin into the intermission with a 3-1 lead.

“We got a little nervous and stopped playing our game,” Thompson said. “We made things open up by that third goal, for sure. Getting the penalty, we were just trying to force things to happen there and we were fortunate to come out with a goal during that time period. That third goal, even though it was in desperation time of the half, came from our guys doing what we’ve been practicing in having great buildup play. I think the fashion in which the third goal happened was more important than the goal itself.”

Joplin’s Ely Montanez battles for position during the Eagles’ win over Monett on Thursday. Photo by Israel Perez.

Ely Montanez added his second goal of the game early in the second half after finding the back of the net in the 55th minute to put the Eagles on top 4-1.

“Ely has been awesome,” Thompson said. “He has provided a ton of assists and puts constant pressure on goal with his shooting ability. He is either putting the ball in the back in the net or putting it on another guy’s foot to put it in there. He’s been very consistent at being an impact player.” 

Joplin added another goal from Carlos Palma in the 58th minute to give the Cubs a 5-1 deficit.

Ely Montanez picked up an assist on Reyes’ second goal of the night, which came in the 60th minute, to give the Eagles a 6-1 advantage.

“It is just a testament to the players,” Thompson said about his team’s play in the second half. “To me, a second-half team means you know how to make adjustments. They made the mental and strategic adjustments and that is all on them.”

Joplin’s Luciano Reyes retreats to position after passing the ball during the Eagles’ win over Monett on Thursday. Reyes finished the game with a hat trick. Photo by Israel Perez.

Reyes added his third goal for the hat trick less than a minute later on the game clock for a 7-1 advantage.

“Ever since he has stepped out here as a freshman, he has been doing the dirty work to make things happen,” Thompson said of Reyes. “This year, seeing the goals fall in is so exciting for him. He has almost hit his season-high mark from all his previous years and we are only seven games into the season. I am really excited for everything coming together for him out there.”

Cordova found the back of the net in the 49th minute for an 8-1 lead.

“I think Luis has grown so much, even from the beginning of the season, just watching his game open up,” Thompson said. “He is such a capable guy on the ball. He is opening his game up and starting to provide his assists and making runs into the box to make those goals happen for him, too. 

“With all of those guys (we have) up top, I would hate for us to have to defend our own attack. They’re just a talented group.”

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