Boys Soccer: Pirates Down Sailors 3-1 For 6th Win

By Kevin Yoder  

Win, Lose, or Draw was a popular television game show in the late 80’s. The Pirates  played their own soccer version last week with a 3-1 win over Columbus Catholic, a 3-2 loss to  Decorah, and a 1-1 draw with AP-DNH United.  

The week began with a visit from the 3A Decorah Vikings. Hudson got on the board first  when freshman Carter Weide blasted a shot through the five hole of the opposing keeper just  six minutes into the game. Decorah answered with a goal of their own, but the Pirates surged  back in front moments later. Weide launched a big throw into the box that senior Anderson  Yoder met at the apex with a scoring header, and the Pirates took a 2-1 lead to intermission.  

That lead held firm until there was less than 8 minutes remaining. Decorah put a pair of  scores together, the dagger coming with just 2 minutes left in the game, and held on for the 3-2  win.  

The Pirates then traveled to Aplington last Thursday for a rematch with AP-DNH United.  The Falcons took the first meeting in Hudson last month 2-1. The sequel proved to be even  closer.  

United struck first with a goal early in the contest to put Hudson in a 1-0 hole. Despite  numerous opportunities, the Pirates were unable to put a goal on the board throughout the first  half. Once the field flipped in the second stanza, Hudson’s fortunes changed with it.  

Shot after shot peppered the United keeper, until at the 8 minute mark, junior McCoy  Yoder slid a pass to fellow junior Austin Kliegl. Kliegl finished it off with hot upper 90 laser that  evened the score at 1. Following a frantic final minute that saw opportunities for both teams,  the game ended in a 1-1 draw.  

The Pirates returned home Friday for a Battle of the High Seas with the Columbus  Sailors. It marked the first meeting of the season for the NICL rivals.  

Hudson jumped in front early once again, and in a repeat of the way the week started.  Carter Weide hit an inswinging corner kick that Anderson Yoder put a head on that found the  back of the net. That 1-0 advantage lasted only ten minutes, until Knox Carter punched an  assist through the Sailor back line that Austin Kliegl finished off for a 2-0 lead.  

Kliegl struck again late in the second half when he pounced on a deflected Anderson  Yoder shot for the third Pirate goal, and his team-leading 12th of the season.  Sophomore goal-keeper Jax Petersen fought off a bevy of late shots at the doorstep to  preserve the 3-1 win. With the 1-1-1 week, Hudson moves to 6-3-1 on the season, with  another three games on this week’s schedule.  

The Pirates are back on the pitch at the Hudson Athletic Complex for a Thursday date  with Waverly-Shell Rock, followed by senior night festivities on Friday as they play host to the  Denver Cyclones.