Vermilion did not start its season on the right foot. The Sailors were ready to change that on Aug. 22.
After an 0-2 start, Vermilion capitalized on its opportunities, which led to a 3-0 halftime lead, which eventually led to its first win. “We were a little down in the dumps after starting 0-2. I do not know if there was another time we started off 0-2,” Vermilion Coach Kurt Innes said.
“Tonight, we had a big test in EC. (The players) were hungry, organized and disciplined. They did what we needed to do.
I am beyond proud of the effort as a team and the individual efforts as well.” The Panthers outshot the Sailors, 6-3, for first half shots on goal, but goalie Caleb German (nine saves) saved all of them to keep the clean sheet. “Caleb (German) is a luxury, when you have a good goalie in soccer, you are going to win a lot of games,” Innes said.
“I think Caleb is the best goalie in the area, Lorain County and in (the Sandusky Bay Conference). He showed it tonight.” The Sailors scored three goals in the first half.
Two of which came from forward Jayden Pettry (sophomore)to kickstart the run. His first career goal came in the 22nd minute, as he headed the ball past Elyria Catholic’s goalie. Brody Morrow was awarded the assist from the cross.
“I was waiting for my teammate to get the cross in. I was not expecting (my first goal) to be a header, but rather a shot with my foot,” Pettry said. “I felt like we came into this game really prepared and we were ready for anything.
” Though Carson Bandagski got a hand on it, it was enough to touch the back of the net. Pettry scored less than a minute later. As Bandagski attempted to sweep the ball from outside his box, Pettry came up with it for an open-net goal.
With 13:43 remaining in the first half. Elyria Catholic fell to 1-1. It defeated Amherst, 5-1 in the season opener.
“When you gift three goals out of the back, that begins to be a problem,” Elyria Catholic Coach Tony Csiszar said. “Also, when you have a keeper that is probably going to be the keeper of the year, with the way he played, you can’t contend with that. Vermilion started its season with losses to Firelands (3-2) and Mansfield Madison Comprehensive (4-0).
This win pushed its record to 1-2. “I hope this springboards us,” Innes said. “I hope we see what we can do when we play disciplined soccer and play as a unit.
We have Perkins on (Aug. 28). They are our rival and went back-and-forth for the past couple of years.
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