SANFORD — All it took to end more two years of misery for the Sanford High School boys soccer team was a floating 40-yard kick off the foot of Rob Dudzisz.
The Redskins (1-1) defeated the Thornton Academy Golden Trojans (0-2) 1-0 last night at Cobb Stadium in Sanford.
Sanford enjoyed their first win in two years, as the team went winless all of last season.
The lone goal came early in the first half. Dudzisz, a junior forward, kicked the ball 40-yards, as marked by the football yard lines on the Cobb Stadium field, and it sailed over the head of Thornton Academy goalie Chris Roberts and into the corner goal.
“I had a goal in the back of my mind,” Dudzisz said. “[The ball] was about knee high and I just volleyed it and it went in.”
The Redskins kept the pressure on the Golden Trojans for much of the first half, but Roberts and company clamped down on defense, deflecting many of Sanford’s shots before the ball got near the goal.
Sanford head coach Brian Desrochers said keeping the pressure on Thornton was part of the team’s strategy.
“That’s our whole philosophy,” Desrochers said, “Whever we have a good attack, if we do lose possession, we just keep attacking. It’s a lot easier to control the ball in this attacking third than it is in our defensive third, so that’s our whole philosophy and it worked for us in the first [half].”
Thornton Academy changed the pressure in the second half of the contest, having many breakaway oppurtunities, but missed kicks and an array of stellar defensive play from goalie David Webb, along with last-second deflections from Justin Salls and Kyle Jolatta kept the Golden Trojans offense at bay and secured the win.
Deroschers said the Redskins could have played better in the second half, but was happy with the win.
“It’s a turning point,” Deroschers said. “It was a sloppy second half but the kids really played well and they stuck with it. T.A. had several oppurtunities that second half to tie it or go ahead, but the boys held tough and started to battle back toward the end of the half, so it was nice.”
Dubzisz said the team wants more than just one win this season.
“We just know we’ve improved from last season,” Dubzisz said. “We hope to get some more wins. We’re not satisfied with this one.”
The Redskins will next play against the Cheverus Stags at home on Thursday.
Deroschers said the Stags will be a challenge for the Redskins.
“They’re a good team. They have a more experienced goalkeeper,” Deroschers said. “They have some experienced players out there. It’s going to be difficult for us if we don’t play a full 80 [minutes].”
Game time against Cheverus on Thursday starts at 6 p.m.
— Contact Dave Dyer at 282-1535 ext. 317.
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