Post Photo by Rickey Clardy Jacob Graham controls the ball for the Vikings. Graham had all four goals in the Community win.
By RICKEY CLARDY
Sports Writer
UNIONVILLE — After nine seniors graduated from last season’s team, it was a new cast of characters for Coach Jesse Cooper as his Community Vikings opened their 2024 soccer season Tuesday night.
After one game, Cooper liked what he saw.
Jacob Graham scored all four Viking goals and Braylon Persons was flawless in net as Community shut out the MTCS Cougars 4-0.
The Vikings wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as Graham, despite a tough angle on the left side of the field, slid the ball past the Cougar goalie in the 6th minute to put Community up 1-0.
Graham took a pass from Nicky Anica and only had the goalie to beat as he scored his second goal in the 23rd minute to put the Vikings up 2-0.
The Vikings knocked on the door for the remaining of the half, but could not add any goals as Community took a 2-0 lead at the intermission.
With Persons stopping all five shots on goal by the Cougars to keep MTCS in check, the game remained 2-0 before Graham scored two late goals to give the Vikings some breathing room. Graham scored in the 74th and 76th minutes as the Vikings took the win.
“We looked good tonight,” Cooper said. “A lot of these guys haven’t played together at all.”
“We have about five freshmen who start and we moved some other players around from last year. So we knew it would take a couple of contests to create chemistry together,” Cooper added.
“Tonight was a step in the right direction.”
=Community will travel to Marshall County for a 6 p.m. game Thursday night.
MTCS 0 0 – 0
Community 2 2 – 4
First Half
Community – Jacob Graham goal (6th minute)
Community – Graham goal (23rd minute)
Second Half
Community – Graham goal (74th minute)
Community – Graham goal (76th minute)
