Cox’s boys soccer match Wednesday against Landstown wasn’t the prettiest 80 minutes, but the Falcons’ lone goal was just enough to secure a pivotal Coastal Conference win at home.
Cox senior forward Jake Butler took advantage of a well placed corner kick from senior forward Mason Riggs in the 39th minute and tapped in the pass amid a scrum in front of the net. That was all the Falcons needed for the 1-0 win.
Butler’s goal was the breakthrough Cox was looking for after threatening to score for much of the first half.
“We train those restarts all the time because we know they make a difference in the games,” Cox coach Eric Blackmore said.
Cox (8-3, 1-1 Coastal) dominated possession in the first half (six shots, four corners) of a chippy back-and-forth contest between evenly matched clubs, rarely letting the Eagles sniff the final third of the field.
But Landstown adjusted in the second half.
The Eagles (7-2-1, 0-1-1) controlled better and created better chances in the final 30 minutes, but they also coughed up key opportunities and failed to execute off deep throw-ins from junior midfielder Tyler McNeil.
Landstown generated its first corner of the game in the 72nd minute and its second in the 78th, but it couldn’t squeeze past Cox sophomore keeper Justin Acey’s athleticism and tight coverage.
Acey’s (six saves) calmness amid a consistent rush of pressure from the Eagles (five shots, two corners in the second half) was key in preserving the Falcons’ one-goal lead.
“It shows that we practice and defended those restarts,” Blackmore said. “And we take a lot of pride in that.”
Despite scoring just one goal, Cox’s offense was effective in executing setups that could have blown the game open. Junior forward Owen Smith sent two flawlessly placed crosses, in the 57th minute and the 75th minute, that freshman midfielder Clay Obara whiffed just high on. The Falcons finished with 10 shots and six corners to the Eagles seven and two.
“We’re such a young team, sometimes we struggle to score those easy ones,” Blackmore said.
The Falcons entered Wednesday’s match looking to avoid an 0-2 start in conference play. Cox travels to Tallwood on Friday, while Landstown visits Ocean Lakes.
“Our conference is so strong that we have to win a game or two like this,” Blackmore said. “I’m proud of these guys and how they played.”
