Byron defeats Triton in soccer opener

The Byron Bears traveled to Triton for the opening game of the 2020 season on Thursday night and came away with a resounding 11-0 win. In a very hot humid evening the Bears did what they have been unable to do since last October:  Play an outdoor futball game. Both teams were excited to be outside and competing. 

This is a season of getting used to being as safe as possible. Teams are isolated from each other, JV does not practice with varsity nor do they travel on the same bus or at the same time. JV must leave the field and go home instead of stay and watch the game. Players not playing must stay 6 ft. apart from each other and masked when not playing. 

Coaches must stay masked and monitor their teams for symptoms and temperatures. There are so many things everyone has to be careful of as we sanitize balls and sanitize hands but tonight we play!

The game started out slowly as Byron was able to maintain possession in the Triton half but unable to connect on the right passes to get by Triton GK Lupillo Martinez who played stellar on the evening. 

It was not until the 23rd minute that rookie Junior Garett Johnson made a hard run through the back line to put Byron up 1-0. Two minutes later, on much the same play, Johnson scored again assisted by Dominic Cerri. Johnson added his third goal in the second half to make it a hat trick on the day. 

The halftime score was 5-0. In all 9 different players scored for Byron: Johnson (3), Liam Schick, Sam Pompeii, Ethan Klein, Cam Schmit, Wesley Felten, Connor Krogstad and Noah Schrooten.  Five of these players notched their first career varsity goal.  “It was a good night to get everyone in the game and the players from both teams competed very hard but very fair and they were having fun,” said Coach Dave Bahr. Of note was an incredible save by  Senior GK Brad Miller on a blast to the far left upper corner that had all the earmarks of unsavable.  Miller was able to make a huge leap and fingertip it wide of the goal. The game was Miller’s first ever game as he is a wide receiver for the Bears football team who decided to give futball a try to stay in shape.  He combined with fellow senior GK Caleb Koza to get the shut out win.