Jay Daubenberger
Seward County kicked off their five-game road stint with a six-hour trip to Coffeyville, KS to take on the Red Ravens where Matheus Ambrozio recorded the first ever hat trick for the Saints with three goals to lead his team to a 4-1 win over Coffeyville to grab their first conference win of the 2024 campaign and kick off their road trip in style.
Ambrozio got the scoring started for both sides early when a foul in the box by the Red Ravens allowed the sophomore midfielder to step up and cash in for his first career goal off a PK to take a 1-0 lead less than ten minutes in. Coffeyville answered back with a PK attempt of their own where despite recording an outstanding save prior, Bruno Mestrescould not prevent the Red Ravens goal that tied the score back up at 1-1 with 23:00 minutes left in the half. Form that moment on it was Seward County who put their foot on the gas and never let up as they forced their way down field where Javier Ruchelli Alvarez was awarded a free kick opportunity that sailed into the top part of the cross bar for SCCC’s second goal of the night and allowed the Saints to retake the lead 2-1. With the halftime break five minutes away Seward County made one final push to add to their lead with Chad Haynes making a shifty move past his defender to find Ambrozio wide open on the run for a rocket shot into the center of the goal to put his team in front 3-1 entering the break.
After a high scoring first half for the Saints offense, it was their defense in the second half that shined as they maintained possession and full control over the Red Ravens as they patiently waited for a chance to score again. That chance to score came from a familiar face throughout the game in Ambrozio who took a big time shot from twenty yards out that landed above the opposing goalkeeper in the back of the goal for his third of the night to complete the hat trick and set a program single-game record. With a 4-1 lead the Saints continued to remain in control against their Jayhawk foes and relied on their discipline throughout the final minutes to secure a dominant win to begin their road stint.
Seward County now improves to 4-2-3 on the 2024 campaign while also rising in the KJCCC standings with a 1-1-3 conference record. They will now turn their attention towards the Barton Cougars when they head to Great Bend on Wednesday for a 1:00 PM kickoff.