Brod’s hat trick leads Hounds past Lafayette
DALTON VITT/DAILY FORUM
Maryville sophomore forward Chance Hermelink hits a shot far post that was saved by Lafayette goalkeeper Josh Stewart during the Spoofhounds’ 4-0 win on Monday.
Zach Brod isn’t too bad of a safety valve when things aren’t going well.
After the Maryville soccer team struggled to put away an initial goal for 39 minutes against outmatched Lafayette, the Spoofhounds turned to their senior forward.
Brod turned in a hat trick in the 4-0 victory, tallying his first goal of the day with just two minutes to spare before halftime.
“Zach Brod’s been kind of on a dry spell the last couple games, but of course with three (goals) today, that looks pretty good,” head coach Stuart Collins said. “He broke that apart. The levies broke. Let’s hope that keeps up.”
Maryville finally put a shot on frame 10 minutes into the contest on a rip from sophomore forward Zach Staples that was saved at the far post by Fighting Irish junior goalkeeper Josh Stewart. Nearly 10 minutes later, Staples missed another opportunity when his one-on-one against Stewart ended with a shot sailing over the crossbar.
In the final 15 minutes of the opening half, the Spoofhounds got their offense moving with a flow at the front and an increase in aggression.
“Our shots — the first several — went right at the keeper,” Collins said. “I was like, why are we playing catch with the keeper? … I didn’t see a lot of forward action with guys off the ball going toward the prime scoring area.”
Those offensive adjustments didn’t change the scoreboard, however, until Brod tapped his first goal of the day across the line in the 39th minute. His tap-in came courtesy of a cross from sophomore forward Chance Hermelink which drew Stewart from his line, leaving the net vacant for Brod.
When it looked like Maryville would take a slight lead to halftime, Brod doubled it. In the 40th and final minute of the first period, Brod beat a pair of Lafayette defenders before drilling a shot into the upper-left corner of the net for a 2-0 advantage at intermission.
Brod kept his foot on the gas as the second half began, sealing a hat trick in the fifth minute of the final period by placing a shot in the bottom-left corner. It was his third goal in just seven minutes of play, and one that kept the Hounds’ momentum rolling after halftime.
“So critical. So critical,” Collins said. “I hate when we pull into a shell and play defense. That’s the best way to lose, that I can think of. The boys, first game this year (at Donaldson-Westside) and I think they were ready for it.”
In the 11th minute of the second half, Maryville freshman forward Thomas Distefano boosted the lead to 4-0 by pushing a shot past Stewart on an assist from Brod.
“(Distefano) had four (shots) that went right at the keeper. Are you kidding me?” Collins joked. “He’s a great freshman. … He’s really, really looking strong, looking good. He makes things happen up there and he doesn’t quit, which is my biggest thing for a forward.”
Lafayette’s best opportunity of the day came on a penalty kick in the 30th minute. Spoofhounds sophomore keeper Lucas Jasinski made the save look easy, reading Fighting Irish junior Nolan Ham before stopping a shot that was heading to the middle of the net.
“He made the read, which made the save not that hard,” Collins said. “If he would’ve just guessed and dove, the ball would’ve been in the goal. The ball went right beside where he was at. He read it so well, but he didn’t have to work hard. He’s very good at that.”
The Spoofhounds (6-6) will take on Bishop LeBlond at 4 p.m. Thursday at Donaldson-Westside Park in Maryville.
DALTON VITT/DAILY FORUM
Spoofhounds senior forward Zach Brod takes a shot from the middle of the 18-yard box during a 4-0 win against Lafayette on Monday. Brod finished with three goals and one assist in the victory.
DALTON VITT/DAILY FORUM
Senior midfielder Amani Kegode passes to a teammate on Monday as Maryville grabbed a 4-0 win against Lafayette at home.
DALTON VITT/DAILY FORUM
Spoofhounds sophomore forward Zach Staples takes a shot in the opening minutes against Lafayette on Monday. Though his shot missed high, Maryville took a 4-0 win.
