Broncos open with district win
The Boyd Broncos soccer team opened its season on the road Monday with a District 8-A win over Smith County 3-0.
First-year team Smith County would have its hands full trying to contain Boyd’s speed in the open field. It would take just 15 minutes for Boyd to strike, when Eric Phillips had a corner kick. Junior Casey Hertwig found his way at the front of the goal and headed the ball for Boyd’s first goal of the day.
Smith County had a chance to tie the game with five minutes left in the half when they were awarded a penalty kick. But senior goalie Jay Medley saved his first goal of the year as he dove to his left, shutting down Smith County and preserving his team’s 1-0 lead at halftime.
Boyd started early on the attack in the second half. It took five minutes before Hertwig gave Boyd a 2-0 lead as he broke away down the center of the field to score. Smith County tried to get its offense going in the second half as they fired shot after shot, but Jay Medley turned them away on the way to a total of 17 saves in the game. Clint Patterson scored with 15 minutes left in the game to give the Broncos their first win of the year.
“This was a good game for us,” said Boyd coach Keri Hertwig. “We haven’t been able to get much practice in, so this was a big win — especially with it being a district game.
“One of our eighth-graders, Austin Cleek, stepped up and did a good job tonight. Most of the game we played on offense. Smith County had several shots tonight but Jay did a good job at goalie and we played very well as a team.”
The Broncos will have their first game at home Thursday against DeKalb County at 3:30.