Hatchets down Jasper, advance in sectional play

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Ethan Hunsinger celebrates after scoring the winning goal against Jasper on Thursday---Photo by Mike Myers.

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October 9, 2008

By Mike Myers, Sports Writer The Washington Times-Herald Thu Oct 09, 2008, 10:40 PM EDT

JASPER — In his long and successful coaching career, Washington boys soccer coach Kevin Myers has always preached the team concept to his charges.

But sometimes, victory requires a great individual effort. Such was the case for the Hatchets on Thursday in a 1-0 opening round sectional victory over their archrivals, the Jasper Wildcats.

With less than five minutes remaining and the team’s poised to reprise their sectional title game from a year ago — a 1-0 Hatchet win that was decided on penalty kicks — Hatchet junior Ethan Hunsinger put the match on his talented left foot and lifted Washington (10-3-5) to victory.

Hunsinger took a pass from teammate Randy Marroquin about 35 yards to the right of the Jasper goal away from two Jasper defenders, then beat those two Wildcats down the sideline to the right corner before making a quick left turn back to the middle of the field. Hunsinger beat another Jasper (9-6-1) defender to the middle of the penalty area, then sent a rocket off his left foot past Jasper keeper Joe Hedinger and into the right corner of the Wildcat goal with 4:34 left on the clock.

Hunsinger’s run began right in front of the Hatchet bench, but that’s not where it will end for Myers.

“That’s a goal that I’m going to remember the rest of my life. When I’m retired and sitting on the sidelines, that’s the goal I’m going to tell stories about,” said Myers. “That was just a high quality effort. It gives me chills. I just can’t imagine working that hard and getting rewarded that way.”

Thursday’s contest was only the second for Hunsinger since he suffered a broken nose in a match against Boonville on Sept. 17, an injury which required surgery. On Thursday, the junior forward suddenly kicked things into high gear with about 15 minutes left in regulation, using his speed, strength, and athleticism to make several long runs toward the Jasper goal before the one which decided the match.

“I was just thinking ‘We’ve got to put the ball in the back of the net somehow.’ I just kept working hard,” said Hunsinger.

Washington fought through a sluggish first half thanks in no small part to the goalkeeping of freshman Cody Chapman, who helped keep the Wildcats scoreless at the half with some nifty net minding. Chapman finished with five saves as the Hatchets outshot Jasper 8-7.

But the Hatchets, who have frustrated Myers at times this season with lackluster play, displayed the kind of soccer their coach has been looking for in the final 40 minutes.

“The first half, we just kind of held our own. But in the second half, they played the way they can play. We pretty well dominated the half,” said Myers.

Action at Jasper will continue on Saturday with Washington Catholic facing Shoals at 10 a.m., followed by the Hatchets facing Northeast Dubois at noon.

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