By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER — Martin Erdal tallied three times in the first half, and Greece Olympia breezed to a 6-0 win over Midlakes in Section V Class B1 boys soccer action, Wednesday.
“It’s always good to get a win in sectionals,” Greece Olympia head coach Rob DuPrau said. “Proud of the team. I feel like we’ve gotten better over the course of the year. Our younger guys have filled into some roles.”
Erdal one-timed an Andrew Balch cross from the left wing for his first goal in the 10th minute of the match. Seven minutes later, the senior midfielder converted a takeaway into his second marker of the game.
“We emphasized having a strong first five minutes,” DuPrau noted. “It’s something we struggled with early on in the year – the first five, last five. When we get off on the right foot, it sets the tone. Getting one early helps us move forward. That definitely helped.”
45’ Moammur Saeed redirects a Martin Erdal cross to give @Spartan_Soccer a 5-nil advantage. Opening round Class B1 (BSOC) pic.twitter.com/Zj5a8jSnj5
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 17, 2018
Erdal all but put the game out of reach when he converted a breakaway to give Olympia a 4-nil lead going into halftime.
“Our team works hard,” said Erdal, a foreign exchange student from Norway. “It’s good to have this win.”
Erdal set up Moammur Saeed for a score less than four minutes into the second half. Gidyon Chane took a lead from Erdal with 11 minutes remaining and found the back of the net for the final margin of victory.
17’ Martin Erdal gets the takeaway and collects his second goal of the first half. @Spartan_Soccer 3 Midlakes 0 Class B1 Opening Round (BSOC) pic.twitter.com/oE62FAOiLl
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 17, 2018
“We have our main guys that we rely on,” DuPrau said referring to Balch, Chane, Erdal and Guy Kadge. “When they’re successful, we have success.”
The shutout was the second this season for Olympia (5-11-1).
“I’m proud of our defense more than anything,” DuPrau added. “We started the season giving up a lot of goals. Over the course of the season, they started playing better as a unit. They’re keeping us in some games.”
Ammar Hussein opened the scoring in the match’s first minute.
Erdal has 10 goals on the season.
Olympia, the No. 7 seed, moves on to play second-seeded Pal-Mac in the quarterfinals.
“They’re going to be a good test,” DuPrau said. “We’re excited.
“They’re a solid team, but that’s sectionals especially when you’re a lower seed like us you know you’re going to be playing some better teams early.”
A 6:30 kickoff is scheduled Saturday at Pal-Mac.
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