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Boys soccer: University guts out 4-3 win over…

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Boys soccer: University guts out 4-3 win over resilient Riverside

University's Aiden Ptacek, right. plays a touch as Riverside's Isacc Amador defends Sept. 23 at University.
University’s Aiden Ptacek, right. plays a touch as Riverside’s Isacc Amador defends Sept. 23 at University.
By | clillstrung@news-herald.com
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Generally speaking year to year, the barometer for News-Herald coverage area boys soccer can typically be found on a grass pitch in Hunting Valley.

Riverside was ready if not eager to attempt to be a barometer buster Sept 23 at University.

But the Preppers saw through the result, showing why they’re the standard in 2021 and amid more fall campaigns than not.

Anderson Gardner netted a hat trick, and US got everything it could ask for and then some from the visitors, including a hat trick from the Beavers’ Angel Murillo, but nonetheless saw out a 4-3 win.

The Preppers (9-2), ranked No. 1 in the Top of the Crop, leaned more toward survival than statement. But a key Gardner strike on the counter in the second half and just enough grit in the defensive third did the trick.

“I thought they did a really nice job,” US coach John Ptacek said. “They were dangerous on the counterattack. It’s not easy when you give away two PKs and a soft restart, and they all counted, so you’ve got to give it to them. They had a plan and executed it, and they made it tough for us.”

After falling behind, 1-0, on a gorgeous upper-90 free kick by Murillo in the 15th minute, the Preppers stormed back.

Gardner latched on to a through ball and slotted in the 18th. Aiden Ptacek followed with a right-footed finish on a cross that seemingly drifted across the box for ages in the 22nd.

Gardner earned a penalty kick in the 27th, then hammered home from the spot, to make it a 3-1 match.

As this was transpiring, though, the Beavers (6-3-2) were not lacking in quality in the natural flow of attack and on the counter, eventually generating a laudable-at-US nine shots on target.

PHOTOS: University vs. Riverside soccer, Sept. 23, 2021

First was Murillo again on a PK, after a tricky Skylar Landgraf attacking run drew contact in the box in the 48th minute, to pull the visitors within 3-2.

But then on the counter, arguably the sequence of the match, Gardner struck again in the 50th.

Ptacek, on a brilliant facilitating run, served with pace for Gardner, and the sophomore striker made no mistake with a low-90 finish.

Murillo again grabbed a lifeline for Riverside with a PK in the 58th, and the Beavers were dangerous in the attack well past the hour mark, so that last Gardner strike for the hat trick and his ninth goal of 2021 was a big deal.

"Aiden is great and super quick," Gardner said. "I knew he was going to make that run. He beat the defender, so all I had to do was make a run on the left side and slot me through. I was able to beat the last man and finish far post.

"It was tough, but we're resilient. We had a tough loss over the weekend (to Kiski Prep). It was good to get back on the winning track and out of a slump."

Riverside coach Christian Kauzljar was rightfully pleased with his side's work.

"US is a great team," Kauzljar said. "They're seventh-ranked in the state (in the Division I coaches' poll). I thought we played a lot better second half. That's what I wanted. We had the chances there. It's a tough result, 4-3, but we hung in there pretty well."

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