Boys Soccer: Shepard powers past Chicago Christian
By Steve Millar For Sun-Times Media August 20, 2012 10:22PM
Updated: September 22, 2012 6:20AM
After his team’s opening-night victory Monday over crosstown rival Chicago Christian, Shepard soccer player Tommy Eyer summed things up succinctly.
“Offensively, scoring five goals, that was a clinic,” Eyer said.
Will Somerfield scored twice, while Eyer and Edgar Madrigal added a goal and an assist as the visiting Astros topped the Knights 5-2 in a game that was called with 13 minutes left because of lightning.
“We were nice and balanced,” Shepard coach Dustin DeFrates said. “We had some through balls and some nice passing. Now we play in (the Windy City Ram Classic), so any momentum we can take into that is big.”
Moments after Chicago Christian pulled to within 3-2 with 26:24 left on the second goal of the night from Kaleb De Jager, Eyer ripped a shot that Knights goalie Kaleb De Ruiter (4 saves) knocked down, but Joey Cabrera was there to find the net off the rebound.
Somerfield then scored to seal the win, capping an impressive varsity debut for the junior.
“I did quite good for my first game on varsity,” Somerfield said.
Both teams showed rust on the back line and both took advantage, scoring off defensive miscues.
Somerfield opened the scoring by stealing the ball from a defender and converting on a breakaway 30 minutes in.
De Jager answered less than a minute later, tucking a shot inside the post.
Madrigal scored late in the first half and Eyer early in the second for a 3-1 lead.
Eyer, who wasn’t expected to play because of a knee injury, wreaked havoc all night.
“I went to the doctor and got cleared,” Eyer said. “It was so much fun, especially with a team that’s so passionate and together.”
Tim Dustin had mixed feelings after his debut as Chicago Christian’s coach.
“We have to look at this as a good scrimmage,” he said. “We have work to do defensively, but we showed we can create chances so that’s good.”
