Soccer: Mateo Sanchez on his birthday leads Montesano to big win over 2nd place Eatonville

4/12/2023

Montesano 4, Eatonville 1

(Montesano, WA) The battle was on Wednesday night at Jack Rottle field in Montesano with the host 1st place 7-0 Bulldogs coming into a head-to-head match with 2nd place Eatonville a game back at 6-1. This is the beginning of the 2nd time through the home and home league schedule and the Cruisers lost their opening and league match 4-1 to Montesano and had their sites set on getting that win back on the road.

The Cruisers were missing 4 starters and the Bulldogs tried to take advantage and pressured the Cruisers defense led by keeper Nathaniel Goode. Goode recorded 6 saves in the 1st half as he and his backline of Nicholas Holder, Trenton Cressman and Josiah Goode denied Montesano multiple times.

The Bulldog offense finally overwhelmed the defense late in the 1st half with the 1st goal coming in the 28th minute off a throw ini from Felix Romero which ping-ponged around and floated up right in front of the goal when Mateo Sanchez bicycle kicked it into the back of the net.

Montesano would add to their lead as the flood gates opened with another Sanchez goal off a free kick just outside the box with a goal that bent around the wall and into the far end of the net in the 36th minute. Moments later a hand ball in the box on Eatonville gave Sanchez a shot at a 1st half hat trick and stepped up and delivered it to the left side of the goal. But he went too early and the referee set it up again and with nearly an identical kick and placement Sanchez gave himself a big present on his birthday with a 1st half hat trick.

The Bulldogs took total control in the 54th minute when Felix Romero scored after several other near misses to go up 4-0. Things got a bit chippy with just under 20 minutes to play as one of the Bulldogs drew a red card and Montesano had to finish the final 19 or so minutes down 1 player. With the win the Bulldogs are in full control of another league Championship.

Eatonville got on the board and avoided the shut out late in the match when Victor Pena tapped in a goal to the far side of the net in the 70th minute after a beautiful set up by Kevin Tomyn. The Cruisers never stopped playing hard even though 4 of their key players including 2 starters were not able to play due to injuries. Despite losing the Cruisers remain in 2nd place in the EVCO 1A and are hoping to get back to full strength quickly to make a post season run.

The Thorbeckes MVP awards went to Montesano’s birthday boy and with the hat trick, Mateo Sanchez and to Eatonville’s keeper Nathaniel Goode who gaver up 4 goals but recorded an astounding 13 saves. Montesano improves to 8-0 in EVCO 1A play and 9-1 overall while Eatonville drops to 6-2 in league and 6-3 overall. The Cruisers will travel to Forks on Friday while Montesano is off until next Monday when they host Tenino.