DOWNINGTOWN – In a statistical deadlock, on the road with time running out, the West Chester Rustin boys’ soccer squad did what it’s been doing over the course of the last three weeks: bear down and find a way to win.
The Golden Knights’ Chris Bugey registered the go-ahead tally with just over 12 minutes on the clock, and then Rustin added two more insurance goals to complete a 4-1 Ches-Mont crossover victory against a solid opponent, Downingtown West, Wednesday at DiSerafino Stadium.
“Our team is really starting the gel,” said Bugey, a senior. “We had a rough start (this season) against Phoenixville (3-0 loss) and Avon Grove (4-0). But after that we focused in.
“All of the seniors, especially the captains, stepped up (in the leadership department), and it’s been amazing since.”
Rustin is now 10-3 overall and has won six straight Ches-Mont matches. And even though the Knights’ dropped a razor-thin 2-1 decision to No. 1 Harriton last weekend, the squad is solidly in second place in the District 1 3A power rankings. It’s a long way from the earlier lopsided losses.
“Defensive identity. If you look at the goals we’ve conceded in the last five games, it’s four and none have been in the run of play,” Rustin head coach Ryan Castle said. “We’ve decided to embrace the identity to go along with the skill we have.
“I like where our boys are.”
The Whippets (5-7-1 overall) have played one of the most difficult schedules in the district, and hope to start a final push on Oct. 7th against archrival Downingtown East. West began the day 24th in the District 1 4A power rankings, and ultimately the top 28 make the field.
“Our guys have got to find their way,” said Whippets’ head coach Joe Sales. “That’s the challenge. But maturity-wise, this is one of the best groups I’ve had. That’s the frustrating part.
“Even though we are in the 20s in the district (power rankings), we’ve played some of the best teams around.”
Locked in a 1-1 battle through 67 minutes of competition, the Knights’ Aiden Koch out-maneuvered several defenders in the corner, got a centering pass to Bugey, and he broke the tie with 12:15 on the clock.
“It’s probably the best goal I’ve had so far,” Bugey said.
“Aiden fought for the ball in the corner, won it, picked his head up and saw me, and nobody was on me.”
Castle added: “We wanted to attack the wings, and (Koch’s) work enabled him to beat three defenders. We also talk about being unselfish and setting up high-quality chances, and Bugey finished it. We know he can do it because he’s done it before.”
Down the stretch, with West taking chances and trying to notch an equalizer, Rustin senior forwards Cole Turner and Jackson Hutsell each scored in the final 5:09.
“The third goal by Cole was all work rate, with two of our guys pressing (West’s) center backs,” Castle said. “Cole (Turner) was willing to run through a ball, and that killed the game.”
In a clash that was much closer than the score indicates, the Whippets had a slight edge in corner kicks (5-4), while the Knights had a 9-6 advantage in shots on goal.
“We went with three (defenders) in the back being down a goal,” Sales explained. “It is what it is. That’s what you get whether it’s 4-1 or 2-1. At that point you have to press and try to get goals.
“(The finish) was a little bit deflating. We’ve had games where we know we are just as good, or better, than the teams that we are playing. I keep telling the guys that eventually things will fall in line.”
Rustin’s Brody Dunn opened the scoring early in the first half with a corner kick that went in, although it may have glanced off West’s Jake Staub. But less than eight minutes later, the Whippets’ Ryner Boone tied it off a free kick by James Soler.
“(Rustin) is always a good team. They’ve got some good players that can punish you, and obviously they did late,” Sales said.
“We knew (West) has played a difficult schedule and we knew they would be a tough opponent – especially on the road,” Bugey added. “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy.”
Afterwards, Castle told his team that the intensity level was better in the second half.
“I think (West) outworked us a little in the first half,” he said. “We were on our heels a bit, so we talked about it at the half about upping our intensity and being willing to win the first and second ball. We did that and we wind up scoring three goals in the second half. It wasn’t by accident.
“The message to the team was if you are willing to bring the intensity of the second half to the whole game, with the skill we have, we are a tough team to beat.”
West Chester Rustin 4, Downingtown West 1
W.C. Rustin 1 3 — 4
Downingtown West 1 0 — 1
W.C. Rustin goals: Dunn, Bugey, Turner, Hutsell.
Downingtown West goal: Boone.
Goalie saves: Hodgkin (R) 5; Ciero (DW) 5.
Source: Berkshire mont
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