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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
Midland downs Nitro 5-2
ONA -- Cabell Midland's boys soccer season got off on the right foot Tuesday night with a 5-2 victory over Nitro.
The Knights feature a senior-laden group of players with a lot of experience, and that became evident in the first half.
After the first 20 minutes went by without a goal, Cabell Midland coach Jack DeFazio made an adjustment in his scheme, and it worked well as the Knights scored three times before halftime to seize control.
"It took us 20-some minutes to catch on, but once we did, we just kept coming at them," DeFazio said. "A lot of the play was in our part of the field, and that is a tribute to our players."
Kyle Ryder scored off an assist from Alex Molina to open the scoring in the 20th minute before Ryder connected again in the 27th minute following a pass from Caleb Brownfield.
It looked as though Molina, a former Huntington St. Joe standout, was going to get his first goal with the Knights just before halftime, but his shot off a free kick from 35 yards away caromed off the cross bar. The ricochet found the head of Cody Hogsett, who plunged it into the back of the net for a 3-0 lead at the break.
The play was indicative of the team chemistry.
"You take players that have a feel and understanding of the game and it just comes together," DeFazio said.
Molina's first goal as a Knight came in the 54th minute after Ryder chipped it over the Nitro goalkeeper and onto Molina's foot. He then deposited it in the back of the net for a 4-0 lead.
Alex Ross added a goal and an assist for Nitro, who got its two goals in the final six minutes. Jarred Clay also scored the final goal of the day for Cabell Midland, who travels to Hurricane at 7:30 p.m. Thursday night.
NITRO 0 2 -- 2
CABELL MIDLAND 3 2 -- 5
CM -- Kyle Ryder (assist Alex Molina), 20th minute
CM -- Ryder (assist Caleb Brownfield), 27th minute
CM -- Cody Hogsett (assist Molina), 38th minute
CM -- Molina (assist Ryder), 54th minute
N -- Alex Ross (assist Ryan Coleman), 74th minute
CM -- Jarred Clay (assist Jacob Miller), 75th minute
N -- Matthew Bowyer (assist Ross), 77th minute
Shots: Nitro 6, CM 14. Saves: Nitro 6, CM 4. Corner kicks: Nitro 2, CM 6.
