TMP-Marian soccer rolls over St. John's Military
By RANDY GONZALES
Earlier in the season, the Thomas More Prep-Marian boys' soccer team had little trouble in beating Salina-St. John's Military Academy.
The Monarchs won 10-0 in Salina in a match that ended at halftime.
The Muleskinners made the Monarchs work a little harder this time around, but the result was the same -- a 10-0 TMP-Marian victory Saturday at the TMP field.
Earlier in the week, TMP-Marian played Class 6A Dodge City tough. The goal Saturday was to keep that same focus.
"We've got to keep the intensity, even if it's against lesser teams," Monarch senior midfielder Darren Wellbrock said.
Wellbrock had a pair of goals, including one early in the match that helped set the tone.
"I try to see them as if they're a Dodge City team," Wellbrock said. "Play them the same way. Go for it from the get-go."
Senior Jason Mayers collected a hat trick. His three goals Saturday came after scoring two goals in a 7-0 win over Nickerson on Thursday. Sophomore striker Teddy Kang also scored twice, and now has a team-high 15 goals on the season.
TMP-Marian (5-4) led 7-0 at halftime, and it could have been worse. On several occasions, the Monarchs' shots were just wide of the goal, or over it. The Monarchs had 25 shots on goal in the abbreviated match.
"We talked in the first half about passing," Monarch coach Darryl Wellbrock said.
Senior Woo Kim scored first, on a pass from junior Shaun Wasinger in the third minute. Wasinger took a corner kick in the ninth minute, with Wellbrock scoring in the box.
In the 22nd, Muleskinner goalkeeper Ilya Sheldon had a short goal kick, with Wasinger taking advantage. He raced past the Muleskinner defenders to the ball and beat Sheldon inside the near post.
In the 25th, Monarch senior David Nietling served the ball in front of the goal, and Mayers got his upper body on the ball for his first goal of the match.
Sheldon took another short goal kick against the wind in the 33rd minute, and Mayers capitalized to score his second goal. In the 36th, TMP-Marian senior Edward Kim brought the ball in from the left flank, with his shot deflecting off Sheldon and into the goal.
Kang finished the first-half scoring iwith a goal in the 40th. Wellbrock took a long free kick, which Sheldon could not handle cleanly in the box. Kang pounced on the loose ball to score to make it 7-0.
Kang got the first goal of the second half, working his way through a pair of defenders and the keeper for a tap-in goal in the 41st.
Wellbrock got the assist on a goal by Mayers in the 49th, and the Monarchs ended the match by the 10-goal rule on Wellbrock's tally in the 62nd minute.
St. John's Military (0-6) managed two shots on goal.
TMP-Marian will travel to McPherson Tuesday for a rematch against Elyria Christian. The Monarchs won the first meeting 10-2 in Hays on Sept. 18.
After Tuesday's match, the Monarchs will have three days of practice next week before playing in the Wichita North Cup, starting on Oct. 13 with a game against Wichita North.
"We're going to work to tweak the flat back four (defense) and passing with the midfielders and strikers," Coach Wellbrock said.
Match notes
TMP-Marian was originally scheduled to play at Dodge City Thursday, but Coach Wellbrock said that game has been canceled due to a schedule conflict. ... TMP-Marian recorded back-to-back shutouts for the first time in the program's three-plus years of existence. ... With the win, the Monarchs also are over .500 in a season for the first time in program history. ... Sheldon, the Muleskinner's starting goalkeeper, made a diving save on Mayers as the first half ended. Sheldon was injured on the play, and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. St. John's Military coach Leo Alvarado said Sheldon dislocated his shoulder. ... TMP-Marian played Saturday without sophomore Jordan Maska, a starter at forward. In Thursday's match against Nickerson, Maska badly bruised his right shin. His status for the rest of the season is uncertain, Coach Wellbrock said. ... Junior Nathan Lawson started in goal to start the second half, the first time at the position since his youth soccer days, Coach Wellbrock said, adding he wanted to give the Monarchs' starting goalkeeper, freshman Drew O'Brien, some experience in the field. O'Brien played on defense in the second half. ... The Monarchs' normal backup keeper, sophomore Payne Reif, injured his ankle Friday in a tournament in Wichita, Coach Wellbrock said. ... The mild-mannered Kang received a yellow card in the 45th minute.
TMP-Marian was originally scheduled to play at Dodge City Thursday, but Coach Wellbrock said that game has been canceled due to a schedule conflict. ... TMP-Marian recorded back-to-back shutouts for the first time in the program's three-plus years of existence. ... With the win, the Monarchs also are over .500 in a season for the first time in program history. ... Sheldon, the Muleskinner's starting goalkeeper, made a diving save on Mayers as the first half ended. Sheldon was injured on the play, and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. St. John's Military coach Leo Alvarado said Sheldon dislocated his shoulder. ... TMP-Marian played Saturday without sophomore Jordan Maska, a starter at forward. In Thursday's match against Nickerson, Maska badly bruised his right shin. His status for the rest of the season is uncertain, Coach Wellbrock said. ... Junior Nathan Lawson started in goal to start the second half, the first time at the position since his youth soccer days, Coach Wellbrock said, adding he wanted to give the Monarchs' starting goalkeeper, freshman Drew O'Brien, some experience in the field. O'Brien played on defense in the second half. ... The Monarchs' normal backup keeper, sophomore Payne Reif, injured his ankle Friday in a tournament in Wichita, Coach Wellbrock said. ... The mild-mannered Kang received a yellow card in the 45th minute.
TMP 10, St. John's Military 0
St. John's Military (0-6) 0 0 -- 10
TMP-Marian (4-3) 7 3 -- 10
First half
TMP -- W. Kim (Wasinger), 3rd minute.
TMP -- Wellbrock (Wasinger), 9th minute.
TMP -- Wasinger, 22nd minute.
TMP -- Mayers (Nietling), 25th minute.
TMP -- Mayers, 33rd minute.
TMP -- E. Kim, 36th minute.
TMP -- Kang, 40th minute.
Second half
TMP -- Kang, 41st minute.
TMP -- Mayers (Welbrock), 49th minute.
TMP -- Wellbrock, 62nd minute.
Goalkeepers -- Sheldon, Ashe, St. John's Military; O'Brien, Lawson, TMP. Saves -- Sheldon 8, Ashe 7, St. John's Military; O'Brien 1, Lawson 1, TMP. Yellow cards -- Kang, TMP, 45th minute.
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