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Fast start propels Warriors

EVERETT — Everett coach Brad Zembower said his team responded after he told them to “come out hot” in the District 6 Class 2A boys soccer quarterfinals.

“Towards the end of the season we really kind of hit a wall,” Zembower said. “We talked about the importance of taking it to them instead of them taking it to us right from the get go.”

The Warriors opened up a two-goal lead less than 11 minutes into the first half and never relinquished control in their 4-0 home win against Richland.

The top seed, Everett will face No. 4 Bedford in the semis on Monday night at 7:30 p.m. at Hollidaysburg.

Bailey Foor led the charge for the Warrirors.  The junior notched a pair of goals and assists.

“Bailey has been a monster all season,” Zembower said.  “He’s been very difficult to stop and I’m just glad to see that he can score in big games.”

Nathaniel Maxwell put the Warriors on the board less than 3 minutes into the action.

After a transition pass from Bailey, Maxwell shot a ball that initially appeared to trickle wide. The officials quickly determined that the ball crossed the goal line and snuck through a hole in the net.

Everett players celebrated during a brief intermission that allowed the officials to patch the net.

Foor scored for the first time with a high shotjust out of the reach of Richland goalie Tim Bodenschatz. Everett peppered the sophomore goalkeeper all evening, while Richland struggled to place shots on goal.

“We just started slow,” Richland coach Mike Stayrook said.  “If we would have picked up the pace a little bit we probably could have made something happen, but when you don’t get going it just doesn’t happen.”

Maxwell struck quickly again in the second half.  The sophomore needed just over three minutes this time to convert on a breakaway.

“He had been hurting for most of the season and its good to see him kind of coming back in top form,” Zembower said of Maxwell.  “He really struck the ball well there for us.”

The Rams stepped up their offensive attack in the last 20 minutes and appeared to break through with 15 to play. Shane Sloan tapped in a pass from Austin Samples, but officials waved off the goal for offsides.

“The kids just kept fighting,” Stayrook said.  “They knew that their season was coming to a close and they didn’t want to give up until the end.”

Everett goaltender Joe Koontz ensured the Rams didn’t get any closer to scoring.  “Joe did really well for us in the back,” Zembower said.  “When he was tested he made some big saves.”

Zembower said the outcome against Bedford will come down to execution.

“The guys know what they have to do, and it’s just a matter of doing it.”

SCORE BY HALVES

Richland    0 0–0

Everett    2 2–4

First Half: E–Maxwell (Bailey), 37:45; E–Foor (Saldivar), 29:15.

Second Half: E–Maxwell (Bailey), 36:50; E–Bailey (unassisted), 19:49.

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