MHS closes in on winning record

     A home victory over Cedar Valley Christian brought the Monticello High School boys soccer team to the .500 mark for the season, but the Panthers slipped below that goal later in the week with a loss to Anamosa.

     Tony Wallerich scored all four goals for the Panthers (4-5) as they defeated CVC by a score of 4-2 April 23 in Monticello.

     Trailing 2-1 at halfime, the Panthers scored three unanswered goals in the second half.

     “The team fought back in the second half and played well enough to gain the lead and then extend it as the half progressed,” Monticello coach Phil Gilkerson said. “Our passing and team chemistry are really starting to mesh.”

     Each team had 10 shots on goal in the match. Panther goalkeeper Alex Fagan made eight saves to help preserve the win. Wallerich had four shots, Cade Folken had three, Devin Kraus had two and Kurt Stadtmueller had one.

     In an April 26 home match against Anamosa, the Blue Raiders avenged an earlier loss to Monticello by an identical score, 2-0.

     Anamosa led 1-0 at halftime before going on to the victory.