Boys Soccer: Pirate Soccer Winners Of 5 Straight

By Kevin Yoder  

Photo Credit: Ava Slade  

Some days teams play poorly but find ways to win. Other days teams play lights out  and leave no doubt. The Hudson boys soccer team experienced both last week.  The week started in Denver against the winless Cyclones. Despite the records, games  with Denver are annually one-goal games, and this one solidified that notion.  During a first half where the Pirates dominated possession and fired countless wind aided shots on goal, only one found the back of the net. Anderson Yoder found Rylan Fogt with  only the goalkeeper to beat, and Fogt did exactly that. Hudson took that 1-0 lead to the  halftime break.  

The second half began like the first for the Pirates, despite a strong headwind. But it  was Denver who would find their offense and the equalizer first.  

With the game tied 1-1, a scrappy Hudson effort surged back in front in an  unconventional way. Following a corner kick scramble, Yoder left a ball in the center of the box  for center back Jacob Culham. Culham, a senior, seized the moment and converted his first  career goal. The Pirate defense took over from that point and ensured Culham’s goal became  the ultimate game-winner in the 2-1 victory.  

From Denver on Monday, the Pirates traveled further north on Highway 63 to battle the  Chickasaws of New Hampton on Friday. Determined to play better and get their offense going  earlier, the Pirates came out firing against an improved New Hampton club.  

Hudson got on the board first thanks to a well executed set piece. McCoy Yoder lofted  a corner kick to the back post, where Carter Weide was waiting with a well-directed header to  make the score 1-0. And the Pirates were just getting started.  

Goals two and three in the first half were the product of the same combination.  Midfielder Anderson Yoder put two assists on the foot of Pirate leading scorer Austin Kliegl  behind the Chickasaw back line, and Kliegl scored both en route to a 3-0 halftime lead.  

Kliegl polished off his hat trick early in the second half following a skirmish in front of  the net to put Hudson up 4-0. The fifth goal of the game came hot off the foot of McCoy Yoder,  as he ripped a free kick past the New Hampton wall.  

Another corner kick, this time off the left foot of Weide, was redirected by Knox Carter  for the first of his two goals on the night. With the score 6-0, Anderson Yoder got his goal off a  one-hop throw-in from Mason Fogt, that he lofted just over the outstretched arms of the  Chickasaw keeper.  

The favor was returned just twenty seconds later when Yoder led Fogt to the finish and  an 8-0 lead. Carter’s second goal pushed the lead to 9-0 before the Yoder to Yoder  combination connected to send both teams to the showers. Anderson’s state-leading 13th  assist resulted in brother McCoy’s second goal of the night and the 10-0 mercy rule win.  

Senior captain Jacob Culham reflected on the week that was and where the team sits at  the midpoint of the season.  

“The first two games were definitely tough losses,” began Culham, “but it takes time for  such a young team with six new starters to understand and get used to each other. Our game  against New Hampton really showed our strength and determination, and we will be tough  competition for anyone.”  

The Pirates return to NICL conference play this week with games against AP-DNH and  Columbus Catholic. Culham knows how far this team has come, and also how much farther  they still can go. 

“It feels great to have our confidence back, but we just need to keep our head down  and keep working hard. If we do we’ll continue to challenge ourselves and reach new levels of  excellence.”