By Chris Botkin
ridertown.com
ST. MARYS, OHIO - WEST SCHOOL - The Roughrider boys varsity soccer team improved its record to 4-0 on the season Monday with a shutout win over an always tough Ft. Jennings squad.
The Riders played the first half with the wind at their backs but were able to put only one in the net despite a lot of time in front of Ft. Jennings goal. Andy Zink put the home team up relatively early with his tenth goal of the young season, but from that point the defenses prevailed.
Ft. Jennings demonstrated impressive ball-handling and passing skills in frustrating the hosts through the remainder of the first half, while the Riders allowed the visitors few scoring opportunities. Ft. Jennings managed only one shot on goal in the first half. The score at the half was 1-0, St. Marys.
St. Marys seemed content to nurse that slim lead until late in the game, when Sophomore Derek Sorrell showed some aggression in igniting a Rider rally. He was rewarded with some nice passing from Gabe McKee and an assist from Zink and scored the game's final goal with just over two minutes remaining.
The Riders took 24 shots in the game to Ft. Jennings' seven. The win was another in a series of firsts for MHS Soccer. St. Marys had never beaten Ft. Jennings in four previous tries, the same as with Temple Christian and Ottawa-Glandorf, two earlier Rider victims.
Senior starter Matt Harkleroad rolled his ankle late in the first half and did not play in the second half. Sorrell was his replacement.
The Riders have a big road game on Thursday, September 14, taking on the Indians at Shawnee in a WBL game. Shawnee is undefeated at 4-0-1, its tie coming against Defiance. MHS Varsity Soccer's next home game is Thursday, September 21, against Kenton.
| 
