Mountaineers crush Jackets, 5-0

WINSTED — The Gilbert Yellowjackets boys soccer team hosted the Housatonic Mountaineers Monday, Oct. 4, through intermittent storms. The boys took a 5-0 loss at Walker Field.

Gilbert’s defensive efforts were strong early on, and they needed to be, with an onslaught of Housatonic offensive pressure that built from the opening whistle. Jackets returning goalkeeper Dan Williams remained vocal from between the posts, trying to rally his team.

The Mountaineers maintained their drive and kept play solely in Gilbert’s half. Unable to efficiently clear the ball and activate their offense, the Jackets scrambled to fend of scoring opportunity after scoring opportunity. However, they found some measure of luck, as numerous Housatonic scoring chances drifted high or just wide of their net.

Just as the fiercest weather kicked in, Williams became very active in the net, making a number of key saves to keep the score even. Housatonic took a shot from far out, which created a fat rebound that was promptly sunk for the first Mountaineer goal of the game.

Gilbert found no relief as the Mountaineers continued to win all the little battles, maintain possession and generate additional chances on net. It was not long before the Yellowjackets found themselves down by two with little offensive showing of their own.

Housatonic began to spend some time in their own end, as the Jackets were able to conjure up a few opportunities. Unfortunately for Gilbert, the Mountaineers seized a one-on-goalkeeper breakaway chance that resulted in the third goal of the half.

In the dying minutes of the first, Gilbert looked desperate just to clear the ball away from their net, which equated to little offensive drive. The Jackets trailed 3-0 heading into the break.

New life and vigor seemed to fuel the Jackets early in the second as they began to win individual battles and develop a fierce hunger for possession. The Mountaineers’ confidence quickly dissipated into an urgency to battle a surging Yellowjacket swarm.

As Housatonic regained control of the game, Williams was forced to make save after save. The Jackets’ growing energy soon dissipated as another defensive lapse offered the second breakaway chance for the Mountaineers, which they turned into the fourth goal of the game.

The Jackets were unable to avoid the shutout, their fourth of the season, and took the 5-0 loss at Walker Field. Gilbert is frantically searching for offense and their first win of the season, scoring only one goal through five games while giving up 22 goals.

Gilbert hosts Litchfield Saturday, Oct. 9, at 1:45 p.m. on Walker Field.