Salesianum soccer strikes down Indian River 2-0

Salesianum soccer sets the standard in Delaware. Teams who play Sallies don’t know if they are playing with them or being played by them.

On Oct. 27 in Dagsboro, undefeated Indian River players had sustained east winds at their backs for 40 minutes of the first half but didn’t score. The script was written, it just needed to be played out.

Sallies snapped like Sandy off the coast, scoring twice in the final 12 minutes for a 2-0 victory. The Sals improved to 12-1 on the season, while Indian River dropped to 13-1

Sallies striker Dylan Huber found the ball on his right foot on a crossing pass from Hunter Dann at the 58-minute mark of a scoreless game and bam, it was in the back of the net. Dann delivered the exclamation point at 78 minutes with a tracer shot off a direct kick that found the far panel of the goal cage.

Salesianum has recorded eight straight shutout victories against Delaware opponents after losing to Dematha Catholic on Sept. 28.

“The first half we were against the wind, and the toughest part is defense,” said Sallies coach Scott Mosier. “It's just hard to clear the ball.”

“Our fitness is excellent, so if we don’t score in the first half we know we’re going to get chances in the second,” said Dylan Huber. “Hunter Dann had a magnificent cross from a free kick and it went right onto my foot and I hit it into the net.”

Mosier talked about the regular season being a learning process getting ready for the state tournament. Mosier-coached teams have won eight of the last 10 Delaware state championships

“We’re a fast team, so on turf we are faster, but a lot of teams can say that,” Mosier said.

Sallies senior striker Josef Klees, a relentless red-haired forward, is a perpetual annoyance to defenses. Klees grabs and clutches and chats up officials.

“We all work hard together," he said. "The main goal is to win the states, so we’re always intense in everything we do. Our mind-set is to go as hard as we can and leave it on the field, and there’s really nothing else you can do.”

Indian River coach Steve Kilby said after the game, "We're anxious to get the tournament started. I look at our program kind of like a mid-major in college football. If we’re hungry enough and get the right breaks, you just never know.”

The state soccer tournament will begin Wednesday, Nov. 7.