DIAZ SCORES HAT TRICK AS STANTON CRUSHES RIVAL PAXON
FABRIZIO GOWDY | DECEMBER 2, 2020 | SPORTS
Stanton's Brandon Diaz scored a hat trick in 90 seconds as the Blue Devils boys soccer team routed rival magnet Paxon School for Advanced Studies Thursday night. The Blue Devils’ 6-0 win over the Golden Eagles marks Stanton’s third straight win in the series and 16th win in the last 21 matchups against Paxon.
"It's always fun beating Paxon," said junior defensive back Kristian Fischer.
The opening minutes were reminiscent of Stanton's last home outing, against Bishop Kenny, when the Blue Devils struggled to finish on opportunities. In the first 15 minutes of Thursday's game, Stanton had several shots on goal inside the six-yard box, but Paxon keeper Davis Jones made eight saves to keep the game scoreless.
The Eagles nearly took the lead in the ninth minute, after a miscommunication between Stanton keeper Sebastian Brunner and his defensive backs resulted in an open net and a loose ball at the top of the 18-yard box. With a Paxon forward bearing down on the ball, Brunner scrambled, diving on the ball and averting disaster.
After some early frustration, the Blue Devils found the back of the net in the 16th minute. Paxon's Davis Jones saved a shot from senior Stanton forward Miles, but senior forward Jake Faltemier cleaned up with a shot to the bottom right corner of the net.
Eleven minutes after Faltemier's goal, Stanton extended its lead on a perfectly executed corner. Junior defensive back Sam Grant played the ball to Kristian Fischer, who headed the ball into the top right corner and put Stanton up 2-0.
It took just five more minutes for Stanton to score its third goal of the half, this time on the foot of Junior midfielder Craig Botkin. Davis Jones couldn't hang on to a low shot by Botkin from the left side of the box, allowing the ball to slip past him and put the Blue Devils up 3-0 at the half.
In the 54th minute, senior forward Brandon Diaz was fouled in the box, giving him a penalty kick and setting off a chain of scoring plays. Diaz scored on the penalty kick, burying the ball in the bottom right. Less than a minute later, senior defensive back Ryan Dreibelbis crossed the ball to Diaz, who headed it in for another goal. Following the ensuing kickoff, Diaz quickly took possession of the ball and scored his third goal in 90 seconds, the ball bouncing off the inside of the left post and into the net.
"I thought that it was my time to shine and be a leader, especially since I haven’t scored much this season," said Diaz.
After Diaz's hat trick, Stanton head coach Steve Stone immediately pulled his starters, allowing mostly underclassmen to finish out the uneventful last 25 minutes.
“This year we’re scheduling really tough teams, so it was nice to get all the boys in tonight,” said Coach Stone.
The subs were able to complete the shutout, meaning Stanton's defense has now pitched five shutouts this season and allowed just a single goal. Stanton's defensive backs, led by the senior trio of Chris Russell, Ethan Alesch, and Ryan Dreibelbis, stifled Paxon's attacks all night.
“They’ve been together for three years, and they know each other,” said Coach Stone of his defense. “They have a good keeper, so they can play hard and not worry about giving up a shot [Brunner] can’t save.”
Paxon had won two straight, but now falls to 2-3. Stanton improves to 2-0-3, and looks to remain undefeated on Tuesday, Dec. 8, at Wolfson High School.