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Richard Ramirez keys Mustangs to season-opening win over Warhorses
Richard Ramirez scored both goals as Smoky Mountain opened its soccer season Monday with a 2-1 victory at Owen.
“It was a great win,” Coach Dolphus Brown said. “Owen has a strong team. Every year it’s a tough match.”
The first goal came in the 18th minute. The play started with a free kick from Martin Davis, who was on the left side about 35 yards out. He crossed the ball toward the far post where Matt Dougherty retrieved it and passed across the box to Ramirez, who scored from 5 yards out.
Davis and Dougherty were both credited with assists.
“We had a lot of opportunities early in the game, but we just weren’t able to convert,” Brown said.
No one scored again until Ramirez connected with nine minutes to play. Davis had the ball in the middle about 40 yards out and passed to his left to Ramirez.
“Richard collected it and went around a defender,” the coach said. “The keeper came out at a severe angle, and Richard was able to push it past him from 6 yards away.”
That goal proved to be the difference because the Warhorses struck two minutes later on Oscar Orellano’s penalty kick after a foul in the box.
Brown said the contest was “a complete team win.”
He said Ramirez played an outstanding game. Among others singled out were Dougherty, Rob Tyson and Coleman Morgan.
The victory was a costly one as defender Ian Youmans sustained a broken ankle some 10 minutes into the second half and is likely lost for the season. He was operated on Tuesday afternoon.
“That’s an incredible blow to us,” Brown said.
A game scheduled for today (Thursday) at Murphy will not be played.
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