Perfect start: First Colonial scores on opening kickoff to shock Kecoughtan, will meet rival Cox for the region title
Zach Wagner’s goal shocked everyone but himself because he’d done it twice before.
Wagner blasted the opening kickoff 50 yards and it fell behind the keeper with just eight seconds off the clock, and First Colonial (11-0-1) went on to blank Kecoughtan 5-0 in the Class 5 Region A boys soccer semifinals Wednesday at Powhatan Field.
First Colonial will play Cox, which beat Gloucester 3-0 in the other semifinal, in the region championship at 1 p.m. Friday at Powhatan Field.
“It was totally their idea,” Patriots coach Juice Pantophlet said. “I didn’t even know they were doing it.”
Wagner came up with the idea in club soccer and he’s scored twice.
“I asked Owen (Ruddy) if the (goalkeeper) is out of his box and he was like, yeah,” Wagner said. “I didn’t even look up. I just hit it as hard as I could and it worked. I think it definitely caught them off guard.”
Kecoughtan (10-1-1) wasn’t used to trailing, and it showed as First Colonial took advantage of hesitant feet. Wagner and the other Patriot forwards tracked back masterfully, forcing turnovers to set up lethal counterattacks.
“The kids bought into what we’re doing,” Pantophlet said. “From the very first day I preach defending, and not just from our backs, but from our midfielders and our strikers.”
Wagner rode the momentum of his opening act by finishing with a hat trick. Jackson Delaney added two goals.
“Zach is a phenomenal player,” Pantophlet said. “He’s very intelligent about the game, he has an extremely brilliant first touch and he’s well aware of his surroundings and what’s going on.”
Taking the chance was a calculated risk as Wagner understands the key to First Colonial’s success.
“We came out with a ton of intensity and, honestly, if we start with intensity. we play way better,” Wagner said. “And if we finish our chances, we’re unbeatable, in my opinion.”
Cox (11-1-0) followed a similar script when Josh Haggerty scored 90 seconds into the match against Gloucester.
Mikey Farmer scored on a second-half header assisted by Eli France and Sam Martin scored on a free kick to set up a Beach District rematch in the region final.
First Colonial beat Cox 2-1 on May 7.
“I think we’ve developed into a much more mature group in which we have a lot more structure,” said Martin, a senior.
Martin is the team’s midfield maestro and has the experience of playing just about every position.
“He’s so dynamic,” Cox coach Eric Blackmore said. “I coached the kid in club at U14 and I played him at center back and outside back because he was so good. When he’s on the ball, the game changes.”
Martin’s midfield play plus the stout defense helped shut down Gloucester’s direct attack through the middle. The defense will be crucial against First Colonial.
“We have a different look than when we first played FC,” Blackmore said. “You learn who you could trust, and I know I can trust those back four that I started today.”
Ray Nimmo, 757-446-2364, ray.nimmo@pilotonline.com
