over Hidden Valley at Spartan Field. PHOTO BY BRIAN HOFFMAN
The Salem boys and girls both pulled out soccer wins on Tuesday as the Spartans returned for a week off due to spring break. Both teams beat Hidden Valley opponents.
The girls played in Salem at Spartan Field and took a 2-1 win in a game that was scoreless until 10 minutes remained. McKenna Habeeb put Salem on the board at that point.
Hidden Valley tied the game with just under two minutes on the clock on a free kick. However, the Spartans came right back down the field and regained the edge as Sarah Mowbray scored off an assist from Lily Barnes.
Salem outshot the Titans, 21-10, and Katie Evans had three saves for the Spartans in goal. Salem is now 4-1 overall and the girls have a tough week with a home game against Blacksburg on Friday and a trip to Longwood University on Saturday for a 5 pm game against Kellam High School.
“Kellam lost in the 6A state final last year,” said Salem coach Josh Jones, who took his team to the 4A final before falling last spring. “They’re a team from the beach and they’re going to meet us halfway at Longwood. I hope we can be competitive and get something out of this. Of course we’re going to win, but they’re going to be the best team we’ll see all season. It should be a great learning experience for the girls and a chance to improve.”
The Salem boys won their second game in a row after a rough start to the season. Salem won at Hidden Valley, 3-1, to improve to 2-3-1 on the season.
“We had three starters out but we were still able to pick up a much needed win,” said coach Dean Jones.
Alec Mowry scored twice in the first half, both assisted by Sahil Patel. In between Elliot Hall scored a goal off an assist from Mowry as Salem led 3-0 at the half.
Hidden Valley cut the lead to 3-1 in the second half, but the Spartans were able to maintain control, outshooting the Titans 15-8. Brayden Meadow had seven saves in goal.
The win gave Salem a 2-1 record in the River Ridge District, and the Spartans will have their work cut out from Friday as they take on perennial state power Blacksburg at Blacksburg High.