By By TOM NYHUIS / Niles Daily Star
BUCHANAN – Positive attitudes on the field produced a positive number on the scoreboard that produced an opening season victory for Buchanan's boys' varsity soccer team. The Bucks fought for a 3-2 non-league win over determined Watervliet Grace Christian team.
"This win was huge, it's a lot different than last year," Buchanan coach Brian Pruett said following the win. "We are minus 12 seniors from last year's team, this is pretty much a whole new team, and they came out with intensity. To get this first win with this many young guys is just a big thing for this program and our year so far and a way to start out."
Buchanan's Perry Wahlstrom scored the teams first goal of the season as the first half of play was coming to a close. The Bucks held on to the 1-0 lead as they entered the second half.
With Buchanan hanging onto the slim lead the Patriots tied the game 10 minutes into the second half on a shot off the foot of Nathan Price. Buchanan responded with an acrobatic shot by Tony Payne from 20 feet in front of the goal.
With his back to the goal Payne lofted the ball over the defender into the air and dropped it behind the goalie where the ball bounced in for the score and a 2-1 lead.
This time the lead lasted only four minutes before Grace's Reu Hansen found the back of the net to knot the game at two at 23:20 of the second half.
"What we have been preaching is- stay positive the whole time, we're in every game and if you want it you can get it," Pruett said. "What I'm seeing is these guys are following what we are asking them to do and listening because last year in a situation like that we would get down and were done. This year, when we're down, we're right back up and then we come back with the win."
Buchanan came back to score the eventual winning goal with 12:42 to play as Dylan Arnold picked up the goal with the assist coming from Paul Kidd.
Grace kept the pressure on, but it was Tyler Knisley with several key saves in goal, to seal the win for Buchanan. Grace Christian's final attempt, a point blank shot with under a minute to play, was corralled by Knisley making a diving stop to his left for the save.
"Tyler played awesome in goal . He had a bunch of huge saves right there at the end with one minute left that could have tied the game. Who knows what would have happened after that. Without Tyler in goal tonight the score could have been different. He had a big impact in the game for only having one day of practice," Pruett said.
Buchanan will travel to New Buffalo on Thursday for another non-league contest.
inal score: Buchanan 3, Watervliet Grace Christian 2
1st half
5:26 Buchanan, Perry Wahlstrom
2nd half
29:58 Grace Christian, Nathan Price
27:39 Buchanan, Tony Payne
23:39 Grace Christian, Reu Hansen
12:42 Buchanan, Dylan Arnold, Assist Paul Kidd