Eagles soccer has solid performance at jamboree

by Michael Smith, Grain Valley News


The Grain Valley boys soccer team had one last tune up before the season starts.

The Eagles were a part of a four-team preseason jamboree Wednesday at Vesper Field in Blue Springs and a had a solid showing in an event that featured Platte County, Raymore-Peculiar and Blue Springs.

They played two 35-minute scrimmages against Ray-Pec and Blue Springs and scored one goal and surrendered on between both as head coach Brett Lewis was happy with what he saw.

The Eagles started strong against Blue Springs, putting pressure on the defense for the first 10 minutes. They had three shots on goal, but all were blocked by a defender or Blue Springs goalkeeper Eli Fiscus.

Grain Valley, which returns eight starters from last season’s team, struggled to contain Blue Springs speed and agility in the defensive third, which led to multiple shot attempts for the Wildcats in the final 25 minutes.

Blue Springs sophomore Luke Gardner sent a short cross following a counterattack to junior David Torres Araujo, who put in a tap in for the only goal of the scrimmage.

“Blue Springs had some good technical, crafty players and a couple of guys with a lot of speed,” Lewis said.

“We knew coming in that Blue Springs was going to be the more intense team. We just had to match it. It was good for us to see that level of intensity for an extended period.”

However, the Eagles looked strong in their other scrimmage against Ray-Pec as they scored on goal in that one. Senior forward Cohen Hackworth, who was a defender the last two seasons, made a run through the middle of the Ray-Pec 18-yard box to chase down a lob pass from senior Lukas Gutauskas, and blasted the ball into the net.

“Against Ray-Pec, we controlled the middle part of the field,” Lewis said. “We created more chances than they did. I don’t think they had a shot on goal. We defended well and sniffed out counterattacks.

“We defend and counterattack really well. We have some speed and have some guys who can get up and put us in some advantageous situations. We have a surplus of midfielders, too. I think we’re going to have some success this year.”

Grain Valley also looked solid on defense, especially sophomore goalkeeper Luke Crawford, who made all the saves he was supposed to make, said Lewis.

“I thought he did pretty well tonight,” Lewis said of Crawford. “I think we left him out to dry on the one goal we gave up against Blue Springs. He’s done what we asked him to do and has been really good for us.”

​Grain Valley’s season opener will be against Harrisonville at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 4 on the road.