Dynamic scoring duo powering unbeaten, top-ranked West Lafayette soccer

WEST LAFAYETTE - Standing in Michael A. Carroll Stadium with rain coming from above, the West Lafayette Red Devils wore runner-up medals that were dripping with a mixture of water, sweat and mostly disappointment.

That October night last year was not the best game West Side put together and Brebeuf beating West Lafayette in the Class 2A state championship brought mixed emotions.

For the departing seniors, they got there, breaking through the regional hurdle.

For those coming back, we can get back here in 2022.

And for Maurice Reimer, just a sophomore last season, a moment of clarity.

If the Red Devils wanted to be back on this stage with a chance to make amends for the disappointing loss, he was going to have to become a more electric offensive player.

"Last year, Austin (Pacheco) scored a lot of goals for us," Reimer said. "It was split between Evan (Cooke), Austin and I. This year I knew I had a little bit more responsibility to get on the score sheet."

On Thursday night, Reimer cashed in twice in the first 10 minutes of the second half, all that was needed in a 2-0 victory at rival Harrison, that both avenged the only regular season loss of last season for West Lafayette and helped Reimer surpass his goal total from his sophomore season.

Goals 19 and 20 for Reimer improved Class 2A No. 1 West Lafayette's record to 12-0-1.

"Blazing fast, strong, skill player. Evan draws a fair amount of attention, which gives him a little less of two or three defenders on him," West Lafayette coach Aaron Cooke said. "Last year he would get those chances and he wouldn't finish sometimes. This year he is turning the corner and finishing at a much higher rate. It makes him and Evan more dangerous up top because you have to decide which one you are going to deal with."

Evan Cooke matched Pacheco with 22 goals last season to lead the team after scoring West Side's lone goal in the state championship.

He started his senior season on a tear, but is often the focal point of opposing defenses.

Cooke has 17 goals, but Reimer feasted on three opponents in last week's Hoosier Conference tournament, scoring eight times and assisting on three other goals. The duo now has accounted for 37 goals in 13 matches.

"He has been a lot more clinical on his finishes this year. He is finding the back of the net very well," Evan Cooke said of Reimer. "Me and him on top, people don't really pay attention to him and he gets to take them on. If they don't pay attention to him, he is going to score for us. If they don't pay attention to me, I am going to score.

"Having that dual threat has been beneficial this year."

Thursday's match though was going to be especially telling.

Had West Lafayette run roughshod over weaker opponents or was this a team ready to make another deep tournament run?

Through 40 minutes, it was scoreless.

Thirty-seven seconds into the second half, Reimer changed that. And less than nine minutes later, he did it again.

"This was definitely a good test for us. ... " Reimer said of the win over Harrison, which beat West Lafayette 2-1 last season. "It's a rival game. It is always intense. We can take a lot of positives from this game."

The most important positive was a victory.

"It is a great preparation for us. The last several games we've gotten really good competition out of everybody we've played," Aaron Cooke said. "Maybe that No. 1 ranking puts a little bit of a target on our back. This game, they don't need any incentive. They are going to come out and play super hard. We see who will step up."

That was needed.

Last season the Red Devils finished 18-2-2, with those two ties against McCutcheon and Logansport extremely disappointing on failed chances to capitalize off good runs. Same with the Harrison match.

West Side left some opportunities on the field Thursday - as did Harrison - but it was crucial for the Red Devils to prove they could cash in during a tight match.

"This game is always tough," Evan Cooke said. "No matter how much better one team is, rankings, it doesn't matter. It all goes out the door when you step on this field versus Harrison. It was definitely a tough game, but I think it proves we have what it takes to get through tough games."

On a loaded roster, the combination of Cooke and Reimer will be the key in seeing that remains the case.

"We've dominated almost all of our games," Reimer said. "We're playing really well and we are eager to get back to where we were last year and to finish it off this time."

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Dynamic scoring duo powers unbeaten, top-ranked West Lafayette soccer