03/29/2024
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ELIZABETHTOWN – Senior Caleb Hatchell recorded a ‘Hat Trick’ of 3 goals Monday night to lead East Bladen to a 9-0 Three Rivers Conference men’s soccer victory over West Columbus.

Senior Brooks McGill fired in 2 goals and dished out 2 assists, and sophmore Jake Evans added 2 goals and an assist. Junior Dan Tatum was credited with 2 assists.

The Eagles opened the scoring in the third minute when McGill played a ball to Hatchell who found junior Greyson Heustess in front of the goal. Heustess knocked in the goal from a yard out.

Evans drilled in a 15-yard shot off of a McGill corner kick for a 2-0 Eagle lead in the sixth minute. Seven minutes later sophmore Gabe Barber sent a cross to Hatchell who popped in his first goal from 8 yards out.

Tatum played a pass to Heustess who fired a cross to Evans who connected from a yard out for a 4-0 East Bladen lead in the 24th minute.

In the 29th minute Hatchell banged in a shot from 9 yards out for his second goal off of a pass from Evans. Three minutes before halftime Gabe Barber turned a pass from junior B. J. Monroe into a goal from ten yards out. East Bladen led 6-0 at halftime.

Four minutes into the second half McGill converted a Tatum assist into a goal. McGill connected on the shot from 6 yards out. Two minutes later McGill scored again from 8 yards out off of a pass from Gabe Barber.

The game ended ten minutes into the second half on Hatchell’s third goal. A Gabe Barber pass set up the goal that Hatchell scored from 9 yards out.

Evans and Gabe Barber led the East Bladen defense with 14 steals each. McGill followed with 13 steals, and juniors Ezequiel Arteaga and Keshaun Davis finished with 12 steals each.

Junior Pierce Melvin collected 11 steals, and Heustess and Tatum had 10 steals each. Junior Spencer Scott was credited with one save in goal for the Eagles.

Coach Jay Raynor’s Eagles remained unbeaten at 11-0 in Three Rivers Conference play and are 17-1 overall. East Bladen will travel to second-place Whiteville Wednesday for a 7 p.m. game.

“We played well tonight despite the windy, wet and cold conditions,” said East Bladen Coach Jay Raynor. “I thought we moved the ball well at times but forced things at other times. As the games went on we did a better job finding the wide player rather than forcing the ball down the middle of the field.”

“I thought we did a better job of attacking and following up shots and also converted on 2 corner kicks,” continued Coach Raynor. “Our backline and keeper had a solid night. Dan was able to get forward and had 2 assists. Our attack is really starting to gel. Our substitution pattern is working, and our line-up combinations are working well.”

“Jake had a magnificient night, and Caleb continued his dominance,” noted Raynor. “Caleb is really locked in and can score and distribute the ball. Greyson put one in and contested about every rebounding opportunity. Brooks did a phenomenal job of getting everyone involved.”

“Gabe had a solid night, and Pierce Melvin made several big stops,” said Raynor. “Ezequiel and Keshaun made some big stops and good decisions tonight. Spencer wasn’t tested much but he did a good job keeping his backline together.”

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