The Antlers win their first game of the season versus an Edmond foe
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Edmond Santa Fe and Deer Creek square off at Santa Fe HS, Thursday, March 14. Taken by George McCormick
Deer Creek boys’ soccer picked up its first win of the season Thursday after going on the road and defeating Edmond Santa Fe, 4-0.
Senior midfielder Josh Albright pulled off a hat trick by scoring the Antlers’ final three goals as the team posts its highest goal total so far this season.
Deer Creek’s first score came after just seven minutes into the match. Jaden Hale snuck a ball past a group of Santa Fe defenders and put the Antlers up 1-0 early. The shot was assisted by Eli Berry, who fought for possession of the ball in the right corner before centering it to the waiting Hale.
Albright scored the first of his three goals in the 33rd minute, right before the halftime break. An Eli Berry corner kick sailed in front of the net and was grounded by the Antlers, landing at the feet of Albright. The senior striked it into the upper left corner of the net to give Deer Creek the two-goal advantage.
The two teams went back and forth throughout most of the second half in what turned into a chippy game on the field. Aggressive play by the Antlers caused Santa Fe to follow suit, which resulted in a handful of penalties including one yellow card for Deer Creek’s Felipe Castaneda.
The back-and-forth lasted for nearly 30 minutes until Albright scored his second goal of the night by putting in a Carter Adams’ free kick in the 60th minute, putting the visitors up 3-0.
Albright secured the hat trick just two minutes later after winning the ball from two Santa Fe defenders. He streaked up the right side of the field and squeaked it past Wolves’ goalkeeper Matt Hepner to give Deer Creek a 4-0 lead and, eventually, the game.
Deer Creek moves to 1-4 on the year with the victory. They’re now 1-1 against Edmond-area opponents after losing in overtime to Edmond North in the team’s previous outing. Up next, they’ll face Norman on the road on Tuesday, March 26.
Edmond Santa Fe now sits at an even 2-2 after four games. Both of their shutouts so far this season have come against Edmond schools, their first coming at the hands of Edmond Memorial, 0-3. The Wolves play next at Piedmont on March 26.