Saints Drop Season Opener

Jay Daubenberger

Liberal, Kansas – Seward County opened up their 2024 season in front of their home crowd in what ended up being a defensive battle against Laramie County with both sides battling it out in a scoreless game before the Golden Eagles eventually snuck past the Saints back line and sunk the only goal of the game for a 1-0 win.  The game was moved up to 11am due to the heat.

Seward County showed their strength on the defensive side of the ball throughout the game as the trio of Francisco Nava Gomez, Alex Woodberry, and Pepe Sanchez-Migallon who held Laramie County scoreless throughout the first half of action. Bruno Mestres continued where he left off as a freshman a year ago with some spectacular saves to knock the ball away and keep the scoreboard even at 0-0 entering the halftime break.

In the second half the Saints were able make their way down field for an offensive attack led by Javier Ruchelli Alvarez who managed to get a shot on goal off but could not connect for a goal while Chad Haynes tried to send in a pair of shots himself with no success as well. Both sides remained in a deadlock on the scoreboard at 0-0 entering the final ten minutes of action where once again Mestres was able to record some high flying saves to keep the score blank. Eventually the Golden Eagles managed to create a path off some quick passes for their only goal of the contest to put the pressure on SCCC who was unable to find a path of their own and fell to Laramie County 1-0 in their season opener.

Mestres was a human highlight real in front of the goal with 6 saves on the day while Haynes attempted the most shots with 2 and Ruchelli Alvarez and Pedro Santos each landing one shot on goal.

Seward County will look to make some changes heading into their next matchup which will take place on Wednesday August 28^th against the Kansas City Kansas Blue Devils at home on Redskin Field at 8:00 PM following the Lady Saints contest at 6:00 PM.