Highlander boys soccer overcomes Yellowjackets 3-0

WINSTED — The Gilbert Yellowjackets boys varsity soccer team fell to the Northwestern Highlanders 3-0 Friday Oct. 3. The sidelines were occupied by a host of fans, including the self-proclaimed Northwestern Red Army, who turned up with cowbells, chants and cheers to invigorate their team.

The Highlanders were quick to go on the attack, forcing the Yellowjacket defense and goaltender Martin Brown to work hard to prevent an early goal. The offense began to seesaw early in the first half, but eventually Northwestern shifted the pressure entirely on Gilbert.

The Highlanders were particularly good at setting up around the net and putting plenty of bodies there to try to knock one in. The Yellowjackets, however, were able to keep Northwestern from centering the ball when they crowded the net, and kept them from capitalizing on a number of good scoring chances.

The remainder of the first went on that way, with Northwestern keeping the play in Gilbert’s end, but with a fine showing by the Yellowjackets to continually shut down their chances. Northwestern scored a late first-half goal when a tricky shot by Kevin Roberge bounced off the post and slipped past Brown. The Yellowjackets went into the break down by one and struggling against an effective Highlander offense.

The Highlanders came out of the break and quickly forced Brown and the defense to come up with some solid defensive effort to keep Northwestern from extending their lead. Gilbert began to have difficulty maintaining possession, but their defense continued to successfully keep Northwestern from setting up another goal in front of the net. Brown did his part to halt the Highlanders’ attack, including a very noteworthy save on a Northwestern breakaway.

The continual offensive pressure paid off, however, in another Northwestern goal by Drew Gordon, putting the score Highlanders 2, Yellowjackets 0. The cross-town rivalry began to turn ugly late in the second, as the play became increasingly physical and a gathering of players exchanged some unfriendly conversation after a rough Gilbert slide tackle.

Northwestern quickly added to their lead with another goal by Chris Landati, putting the game safely out of reach late in the second. A frustrated Yellowjackets team began to grind into the Highlanders, but it would be of little benefit as they began to draw a number of yellow card penalties.

Gilbert couldn’t move the ball out of their own end late in the second, nor add a goal of their own, but managed to keep Northwestern from adding to their significant lead. The game ended with a final score of Northwestern 3, Gilbert 0. The Northwestern Red Army stormed the field to celebrate the victory with their team after a very heated cross-town performance.