Maple Hill Boys Soccer downs Taconic Hills, staying undefeated

CASTLETON, NY — The Maple Hill Boys Varsity Soccer team added another win to their undefeated season Tuesday afternoon, in a four-nil win over the Taconic Hills Titans.

Contrary to the score on the scoreboard, the Titans actually played a pretty good game, possessing the ball for most of the first half. “We didn’t come out with the intensity that we came out with in the beginning of the season,” said Maple Hill senior Garrett Axtmann.

Despite the slow start, Alec Yager put MH on the board when he scored off a connection from Sophomore Christian Beber, eight minutes and 49 seconds into the game, but THS continued to out-possess the Wildcats.

Maple Hill’s biggest goal of the day came with only 20 seconds remaining in the first half, when Garrett Axtmann scored to make it a two-nil game. “It gave us some momentum going into the half,” said Axtmann.

Through the second half, THHS continued to possess the ball well, but like so many teams they had no answer for the Patroon Conference’s leader in goals scored, Garrett Axtmann. The four-year varsity player scored his 28th goal of the year with just under 17 minutes to play, putting Maple Hill further ahead at three-nil.

With four minutes and 14 seconds to play, again it was Yager who delivered the final blow off a direct kick, this time from Jeremy Price.

Despite the victory, Axtmann admits that they’ve got some things to work on, especially with their fall sports weekend tournament coming up later this week, “We need more intensity. We’ve got to pass better and keep the ball on the ground.” The Wildcats will open up their tournament with a 3:15p.m. game against Glens Falls (Class B) on Saturday.

Before Glens Falls, Maple Hill will have to top Hudson at home on Thursday, 4:15p.m. Taconic’s next game will also take place at home on Thursday, against the Greenville Spartans, at 4:15p.m.