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Beech stays perfect with 2-1 win over Gallatin




Beech players celebrate the goal by Jack Hepburn, second from right, to help defeat Gallatin 2-1 Friday night.Brett Berwager

Beech players celebrate the goal by Jack Hepburn, second from right, to help defeat Gallatin 2-1 Friday night.Brett Berwager

GALLATIN — With Friday night’s soccer match between district rivals Beech and Gallatin High School deadlocked in a 1-1 tie early in the second half, Beech’s Jack Hepburn eyed up a free kick after a Gallatin penalty.

Gallatin goalkeeper Carter Cooper shouted instructions to his teammates, lining up the three-man wall defense in just the right position to protect the goal.

Hepburn seized the moment and the opportunity for his team, sending the free kick around the wall, past the diving goalkeeper and into the bottom left corner of the goal.

The kick would ultimately end up being the game winner, as the Buccaneers walked away with a 2-1 victory, pushing their record to a perfect 6-0 on the season.

“It felt good when it went in. I didn’t think it would be that good honestly,” Hepburn said. “I was looking at trying to get it over the wall and then dip it into the goal, and it worked perfectly.”

It was a well-placed goal by a really smart player, Beech Head Coach John Ferguson said.

Beech’s Kevin Figueroa controls the ball against Gallatin.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Kevin Figueroa controls the ball against Gallatin.Brett Berwager

“That’s a good free kick on any level,” he added. “The fact that he’s able to go around the wall and into this post that’s supposed to be covered by the wall.”

The second of back-to-back district games and playing on Gallatin’s large field was a tough task for Ferguson’s squad, but he was happy with the way his team fought through the challenge.

“This is a good, tough, resilient team that understands what we’re trying to do and is able to battle through the adversity instead of looking for reasons to lose a game,” Ferguson said. “Coming to Gallatin is always tough for teams. One, because [Gallatin Head Coach] Greg Harper gets his kids ready, and the amount of running you do on this field is higher than you do anywhere else. You could see we had tired legs, but mentally we were strong tonight.”

Friday’s match saw a fast pace as both teams were sprinting up and down the field attempting to use a strong wind to their advantage.

Gallatin goal keeper Carter Cooper kicks the ball during Friday's match against Beech.Brett Berwager

Gallatin goal keeper Carter Cooper kicks the ball during Friday’s match against Beech.Brett Berwager

Beech struck 21 minutes into the first half on a goal by Mathias Cobb, who scored on a sneaky shot past the Gallatin keeper.

Gallatin responded with a little less than four minutes remaining in the half on a goal by Noah Abbott, who kicked home a nice feed from teammate Brian Perez. Perez used his speed to race in on goal and make the pass with two Beech defenders and a sprawling goalkeeper closing in.

As the game clock ticked under 10 minutes left to play, Gallatin made a strong final attempt to tie the match with several rushes and corner kicks, but was unable to find the back of the net.

After a good start to the season, the loss now marks six straight for the Green Wave.

“We can’t put anything together, can’t find the right combination,” Coach Harper said after Friday’s match. “I think we had some decent stuff if we would have connected some passes and had some composure on the ball. Little things are stopping us from probably breaking through and until we figure that out, we’re kind of stuck. But we just got to go back to work and get better.”

Beech’s Takondwa Bondwe and Gallatin’s Andrew Thomas battle for control of the ball.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Takondwa Bondwe and Gallatin’s Andrew Thomas battle for control of the ball.Brett Berwager

“Beech played well though, give them credit.”

Gallatin’s Brian Perez kicks the ball towards a teammate as Beech’s Takondwa Bondwe defends.Brett Berwager

Gallatin’s Brian Perez kicks the ball towards a teammate as Beech’s Takondwa Bondwe defends.Brett Berwager

Gallatin's Ashton Kelly jumps in the air as he controls the ball against Beech.Brett Berwager

Gallatin’s Ashton Kelly jumps in the air as he controls the ball against Beech.Brett Berwager

Beech and Gallatin players battle for possession.Brett Berwager

Beech and Gallatin players battle for possession.Brett Berwager

Beech goal keeper Ryan Hoffman falls to the ground as Gallatin’s Brian Perez kicks the ball to an open teammate. Gallatin would score on the play to tie the match at one.Brett Berwager

Beech goal keeper Ryan Hoffman falls to the ground as Gallatin’s Brian Perez kicks the ball to an open teammate. Gallatin would score on the play to tie the match at one.Brett Berwager

Gallatin's Noah Abbott celebrates his goal against Beech Friday.Brett Berwager

Gallatin’s Noah Abbott celebrates his goal against Beech Friday.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Mathias Cobb kicks the ball towards the gaol as Gallatin’s Mason Steele attempts to defend.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Mathias Cobb kicks the ball towards the gaol as Gallatin’s Mason Steele attempts to defend.Brett Berwager

Gallatin's Dilver Amaya and Beech's Jack Hepburn jump in the air while attempting to gain possession.Brett Berwager

Gallatin’s Dilver Amaya and Beech’s Jack Hepburn jump in the air while attempting to gain possession.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Mathias Cobb and Gallatin’s Matthew Torres battle for control of the ball during Friday’s match. See more phtoos on B2.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Mathias Cobb and Gallatin’s Matthew Torres battle for control of the ball during Friday’s match. See more phtoos on B2.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Bennett Shelton attempts to get after drawling a foul on Gallatin to set up a free kick goal.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Bennett Shelton attempts to get after drawling a foul on Gallatin to set up a free kick goal.Brett Berwager

Beech's Carson Cochran begins to celebrate a free kick goal by his teammate Jack Hepburn.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Carson Cochran begins to celebrate a free kick goal by his teammate Jack Hepburn.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Jack Hepburn and Gallatin’s Noah Abbott look to gain possession.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Jack Hepburn and Gallatin’s Noah Abbott look to gain possession.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Kevin Figueroa attempts to kick the ball up the field towards a teammate as Gallatin’s Brain Perez defends.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Kevin Figueroa attempts to kick the ball up the field towards a teammate as Gallatin’s Brain Perez defends.Brett Berwager

Gallatin's Brian Perez falls to the ground as Beech's Kevin Figueroa looks to regain possession.Brett Berwager

Gallatin’s Brian Perez falls to the ground as Beech’s Kevin Figueroa looks to regain possession.Brett Berwager

Gallatin's Atdhair Granados kicks the ball towards an open teammate against Beech Friday.Brett Berwager

Gallatin’s Atdhair Granados kicks the ball towards an open teammate against Beech Friday.Brett Berwager

Beech's Colton Blakely leaps in the air over Gallatin's Andrew Baker.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Colton Blakely leaps in the air over Gallatin’s Andrew Baker.Brett Berwager

Gallatin's Andrew Baker heads the ball while battling for possession with Beech's Takondwa Bondwe.Brett Berwager

Gallatin’s Andrew Baker heads the ball while battling for possession with Beech’s Takondwa Bondwe.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Kevin Figueroa attempts to out race Gallatin’s Ashton Kelley for possession of the ball. Continued from B1.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Kevin Figueroa attempts to out race Gallatin’s Ashton Kelley for possession of the ball. Continued from B1.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Kevin Figueroa leaps in the air as he collides with Gallatin’s Andrew Baker.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Kevin Figueroa leaps in the air as he collides with Gallatin’s Andrew Baker.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Alex Wilson, middle, struggles to gain possession of the ball against Gallatin’s Tyler Davis.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Alex Wilson, middle, struggles to gain possession of the ball against Gallatin’s Tyler Davis.Brett Berwager

Gallatin's Tyler Davis falls to the ground after being tripped by Beech's Takondwa Bondwe.Brett Berwager

Gallatin’s Tyler Davis falls to the ground after being tripped by Beech’s Takondwa Bondwe.Brett Berwager

Gallatin’s Brian Perez looks to keep possession of the ball in the final minute of Friday’s match as Beech’s Kevin Figueroa attempts to defend.Brett Berwager

Gallatin’s Brian Perez looks to keep possession of the ball in the final minute of Friday’s match as Beech’s Kevin Figueroa attempts to defend.Brett Berwager

Gallatin Head Coach Greg Harper talks with his team after Friday's 2-1 defeat to Beech.Brett Berwager

Gallatin Head Coach Greg Harper talks with his team after Friday’s 2-1 defeat to Beech.Brett Berwager

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