KALONA

Facing a tough non-conference test, the Ravens found themselves in a defensive battle with the visiting Comets as both teams went into the half with goose eggs on the scoreboard, but this scoreless trend did not carry over into the next half.   

Staying undefeated on the season, West Liberty’s (7-0) four-goal barrage in the second half lifted them to a 4-0 road win over Hillcrest (2-2) last Thursday.

“I expected them to play the way they played,” Hillcrest coach Marcus Miller said of West Liberty. “I thought in the first half we matched them pretty well, in the second half they took it to us. We had a couple unfortunate bounces, poor clearances.”

The Comets broke the scoring seal two minutes into the second half with their first goal of the game and three minutes later they scored again to double their lead. 

“[West Liberty] got used to things and how the field works and we maybe got a little tired,” coach Miller said about what the difference was between the first half and the second half.

Hillcrest attempted to match the offensive efforts of the Comets but came up short, ultimately being shut out for the second time this year. West Liberty picks up its seventh straight win and have only given up two goals this season

“It’s the kind of game that I think we learned a lot about ourselves and what we need to work on in practice,” coach Miller said. “I think it’ll make us a better team going forward.”

West Liberty was led by Uriel Andrade-Martinez who scored a team high two goals. The junior leads the Comets with 15 goals through seven games.

Hillcrest senior goalkeeper Kyle Neuschwander recorded six saves.

“We saw the things we need to work on, continuing to learn four games in. It picks up the pace with two games a week pretty much,” coach Miller said. “And we’ll have to lock in and hopefully keep improving.”

Up next for Hillcrest is a home game against Danville (1-4) on April 25.