Jennifer Jimenez

For West Valley Preps

It didn’t take long for the #11 Liberty boys soccer team to make their mark on Thursday’s play-in game against #22 Lake Havasu.

Less than two minutes into the game, junior Kolter Nelson got on the end of a big throw-in from Logan Ritter, putting it into the back of the net on a header played off the cross bar

Liberty never let up early on, with junior Tyler Thompson making runs up top with great combination play from Patrick Wheeler and junior forward Bailey Moore. The Lions possession was unmatched and the team made it look easy to piece together passes, running up the middle for their goal. This after Wheeler found senior Ryan Galbreath making a quick run inside, who struck the ball with the outside of his left foot to go ahead 2-0.

Liberty’s forwards kept pushing and halfway through the first the Lions went up 3-0 on a left-footed strike from Thompson. Thompson recorded his second goal of the game after his persistence left him to clean up in front of the goal. A well-placed shot gave Thompson his second goal and the 4-0 score for the team.

“I just waited to see when the defender was going to move so I could get a clear shot,” he said.

Thompson said his team has a lot of great players on the roster who can get open and know how to play the ball. Liberty boys soccer coach Tyler Hussey also has a great deal of confidence in his team. They are currently on a seven-game winning streak and coach said the whole idea is teamwork and moving the ball.

“The skills are there and playing for each other and not ourselves is the key from now on. When they do that it is beautiful soccer,” Hussey said.

Hussey said the team came out of the gates fast and did exactly what they needed to do. He said the team got a little complacent and a little too comfortable, but then the team coasted and it was a good win with no injuries. With a four-goal cushion, the Lions continued with their game plan and while some teams start to get into bad habits of staying high on offense and taking players on, Liberty players didn’t try to do it all by themselves

“Our shape has been good the last few games and their habits are to drop in and keep the ball in front and play the way they are facing.,” Hussey said.

After losing a couple guys earlier in the season to concussions, Hussey said they are now on the back line and the team is hitting their stride. Their attack out of the defensive third of the field is impressive. Coach Hussey said he loves when his outside backs attack and center backs control and distribute the ball

“When they do that they understand their roles of how to switch and cover and it’s hard to defend,” Coach Hussey said. “And that’s the whole goal to keep it unpredictable and keep numbers forward in different ways.”

Hussey said when you work hard and create chances you must put them away.

“Hopefully tonight was a confidence booster for some of the guys and the team can carry that into next week,” he said.

Liberty boys soccer senior midfielder Jay Morrell goes his own way while the sun sets behind the field. [Donna Mundy/Special to West Valley Preps][/caption]