The Mason County Royals confronted off towards the Holmes Bulldogs of their first official soccer match of the season at dwelling on Tuesday.
The sport acquired off to a reasonably sluggish begin, with the Royals managing to attain one aim halfway via the primary half. Each groups’ defenses had been enjoying aggressively, and wouldn’t enable the opposite an open shot. By the top of the primary half, Mason County’s aim was the one one scored, the Royals main 1-0.
“I’m very happy with the best way it went. We are able to at all times do higher, we will at all times enhance however the boys performed their coronary heart out. JV we had been somewhat gentle on subs, had numerous sicknesses occurring, however these boys got here out and performed actually exhausting tonight.” stated Royals head coach Shane Taylor.
This will likely be Taylor’s first yr as head coach of the Royals, a crew who has struggled some previously. Final yr Mason County went 5-11-2, not successful their first recreation till August 27, 2022, towards the Powell County Pirates, the place they received 6-1.
The Royals acquired the sport going early within the second half nevertheless, scoring one other aim within the first two minutes of play. Holmes responded with a aim of their very own, however two extra unanswered targets from the Royals would spell defeat for the Bulldogs because the second half ticked away.
“I feel they had been looking for their ft somewhat bit. First recreation of the yr, we had one different scrimmage so I feel one of many greatest issues is them getting used to getting right into a rhythm, and I feel because the second half began we did some issues somewhat bit completely different however I feel they discovered that rhythm within the second half.” stated coach Taylor.
The Royals scrimmage was a 3-1 loss to Fleming County. a crew Mason County will face off towards only one extra time this season, later this month on Tuesday, August 29 on the Panthers dwelling subject.
Beginning the season off with a 4-1 win is a step in the fitting course for Mason County, and coach Taylor and the Royals hope to proceed the development transferring ahead into the season. The Royals have a talented roster, though youthful than most. With simply two seniors on the crew, Mason County is compelled to begin freshmen, which to some could seem to be a battle, however clearly the Royals know tips on how to get it executed.
Senior Kaedyn Gill led the crew in scoring this recreation, scoring three of the Royals 4 targets for the groups first hat trick of the season. Coach Taylor additionally counseled the efforts of standouts like Noah Gardner, Braxton Malone and Cade Pugh.
“I’m simply very pleased with them. They work very exhausting, they work as a crew and so they get the outcomes they’re in search of.” stated coach Taylor.
A younger roster could trigger some struggles for the crew down the road, however the potential to develop collectively and proceed to construct on their expertise as a crew for years to come back will solely strengthen the crew as time strikes on.
The Royals may have confronted off towards the Boyd County Lions yesterday night, and can hit the highway to tackle the Calvary Christian Cougars tomorrow afternoon.