Blowout win secures top seed

The Mercer County boys soccer team mercy ruled new 46th District opponent, the Trinity Christian Titans in a 10-0 blowout Sunday, Aug. 21. With the big win the Mercer Titans shored up the district one seed beating out West Jessamine. This is Trinity Christian’s first year with a KHSAA affiliated team and they are located between Nicholasville and Lexington.

Mercer wasted no time getting on the scoreboard with senior Beau Brown burying a top right shot from just past the midline (1’), 1-0. Trinity Christian played very defensively with all of their players on their side of the field. 

Liam Potts added in the second goal with a dump off from Ben Waddell to the top of the box to set up an easy goal (6’), 2-0. The shots kept coming for the Mercer Titans with seniors Troy Diaz-Ward, Forte Bess, Brown and Sam Walls all coming close. Trinity Christian had a look at the goal once in the first period, but sailed  it over (14’).

Mercer’s third goal was set up by Bess who worked the ball down the field and found Walls in the box for a right footed goal in the bottom right goal (18’), 3-0. Brown racked up his second goal of the first period using his speed to get past the back line and delivered a powerful shot past the Trinity Christian keeper (22’), 4-0.

Trinity Christian found no luck getting past the Mercer back line of Gavin Wilson, Kamron Maddox and Kyler Sallee. Jase Cocanougher had an easy day in the goal with his first shut out of the season. 

Bess had another wide open run to the goal and chipped a shot over the Trinity keeper, but was called off sides (25’). Bess had a great day making plays including a beautiful corner kick that Brown finished in the box with a header past the goalie to complete his first half hat trick (29’), 5-0.

Wilson set up the Mercer Titans next goal with a field flipping kick from his defensive mid position and found Diaz-Ward behind the Trinity back line for an easy goal (32’), 7-0. In the last minutes of the first period, the younger Mercer players had their chances at scoring with Jack Gammon and Luis Osoy both getting their shots stopped (35’, 36’).

Mercer had a few more shots at the goal in the fading minutes of the first period, but none found their mark. Trinity just didn’t have the players or conditioning to keep up with the experienced Mercer squad.  With only two subs for the Trinity Titans they struggled to stay in front of Mercer’s speedy attackers.

The Mercer Titans started the second period how they ended the first, with shots on goal. Senior Ian Devensky’s shot was blocked by the Trinity keeper and Gammon had a heel kick in the box that also was stopped. 

Potts found the back of the net for his second goal of the game with a hard outside shot from the foul line to give Mercer a seven goal lead (47’), 7-0. Back on the attack, Devensky had a nice cross to Walls who laid out for a header that was blocked by Trinity’s goalie (50’). 

The Trinity Titans managed to advance the ball into Mercer territory, but their only shot was wide left (57’). Diaz-Ward made a nice play to cross the ball right before going out of bounds to Potts for a short shot past the keeper to give him a hat trick on the day (63’), 8-0. 

Trinity’s back line was tired and Bess took advantage getting behind them and the keeper left the goal, but missed giving up the easy shot (64’), 9-0. 

Walls had two attempts at the final goal, but was blocked both times by Trinity Christan’s keeper. Bess was the one to make the curtain call with a smooth move to fake the goalie and score to end the game (67’), 10-0.

Mercer came into the contest knowing whoever had the most goals scored against district opponents would have the top seed in the district tournament. With a one goal lead heading into Sunday’s match on West Jessamine, from the 3-1 East Jessamine win earlier this season, the Titans claim the top spot. 

Head Coach Jeremy Carlson was proud of his team. “It was a good team effort and we got to see a lot of different looks from different players,” said Carlson.

Mercer currently sets at 4-1 this season with a 2-0 district record. Their next contest  is Saturday, Aug. 27 against region opponent, the Lincoln County Patriots. The game is at Lincoln County with kick off at 12 p.m.

Stats

Goals: Brown 3, Potts 3, Bess 2, Walls 1, Diaz-Ward 1.

Assists: Bess 3, Diaz-Ward 3, Wilson 2, Waddell 1, Gammon 1.