April 16, 2024

Cardinals shut down Indians in LHC play

By Jocelyn Sheets

Oskaloosa goalkeeper Ben Boston (00) gambled on the play and paid for it as there’s nothing he can do but watch as Newton High’s Nick Rusk (9) kicks the ball into the goal in the first half of Tuesday night’s Little Hawkeye Conference game. Rusk’s goal put the Cardinals up 2-0 and they went on to beat the visitng Indians, 3-0, at H.A. Lynn Stadium. (Jocelyn Sheets)

Mike McCormick, a senior, who had been sitting on the sidelines the past few weeks because of a foot injury, was back on the soccer field Tuesday night for Newton High’s Cardinals. And he scored his first goal of the season in the 3-0 victory over visiting Oskaloosa’s Indians.

McCormick’s goal came off a Cardinal corner kick with 16:51 left in the game. The Cardinals led the Indians 2-0 at halftime of the Little Hawkeye Conference contest.

Reese Rosenquist placed a pass right to Josh Ventling for the first goal of the night. It came with 26:25 remaining in the first half. Junior Nick Rusk netted his first goal of the season at the 10-minute mark for Newton.

“Josh called off his teammates and calmly slid the ball through, past the keeper,” said Sackda Viravong, Newton head coach. “Nick was in the right place at the right time.”

Oskaloosa’s goalkeeper Ben Boston came out of goal to stop an attack, but the ball was kicked to his left. All Boston could do is watch as Rusk delivered the kick, sending the ball into the net.

“It was nice to get a win. It was a well-deserved victory for the team after the adversity of last week,” Viravong said. “The kids worked hard all over the field.”

The adversity is the loss of senior defender Brock Southern. He suffered a broken right leg in a game at ADM. Viravong said Southern’s departure left a big hole in the middle of the Cardinal defense.

“Tonight, we moved kids around to different positions,” he said. “Dalton Nevels took over Brock’s stopper position. We moved Maison Gray up from the junior varsity to take Dalton’s outside back position. He did a good job in his first varsity competition.”

Viravong said Nevels played well as center defender and was involved in several counter attacks by the Cardinals. Nevels took some shots at the goal, he said.

Newton had 17 shots on goal and nine corner kick opportunities. Grant Davidson, who has 109 saves on the season, was credited with three saves against Oskaloosa. Ventling has 11 goals on the season to lead the team.

With the victory, the Cardinals improved to 6-5 overall and 2-2 in conference play. Newton faces Gilbert in the first round of Saturday’s tournament at Nevada.

Newton’s junior varsity won 3-0 against Oskaloosa Tuesday. No details on goals were available at press time.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535
or jsheets@newtondailynews.com