Packers varsity soccer sweeps against Fitzgerald

Published 7:45 pm Saturday, February 17, 2024

Bryan Ortiz battles for possession in a recent match.

MOULTRIE — In the last two minutes before the game’s first half ended a Fitzgerald player had a handball within the goal box, giving the Packers a penalty kick.

Bryan Ortiz scored as a result with a kick to the upper left corner of the goal.

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The varsity soccer game broke for halftime with the Packers leading 4-0.

With two more goals in the second half, the Packers won 6-0.

“We are still growing and learning,” said assistant Packers coach Marcus Lopez. “But, we have seen progression over out last four games.”

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Friday night’s game was the third consecutive win for the Packers. They are 3-1-1 in the season so far.

In addition to the penalty kick, Ortiz also scored the first goal of the game with 26 minutes left in the first half.

One minute later, Turner McDaniel had the final touch on the Packer’s second goal of the game.

The final goal for the Packers before the penalty kick occurred with less than five minutes in the half.

Christian Mata sent a long forward pass to Joshua Ramirez, who knocked the goalie off balance with fancy footwork and had an easy, open shot.

23 other shots were taken on goal during the first half of the game, but none saw the back of the net.

During the second half, near the same amount of shots were taken on goal — 24.

Two of them added points to the Packer scoreboard.

Five minutes after the game started again Mata executed a corner kick perfectly to Hudson Glenn.

Glenn used his head to send the ball past the goalie’s outstretched fingertips.

The remainder of the game was scoreless until less than a minute was on the game clock.

After receiving a forward middle pass from Mario Portillo that bypassed the goalie, Joshua Ramirez tapped the ball into the net.

“We try to focus on passing and keeping the ball moving,” said Lopez. “We are only going to keep getting better.”

Due to the teamwork and communication from the Packers, the ball only reached the goalie Navi Rodriguez twice during the game.

Wilson Hulett replaced Rodriguez as goalie during the middle of the second half when head Coach Colby Simpson did a complete substitution of the team to allow every player a chance on the field.

Hulett saved three shots on goal.

Defensively, multiple strategies were used to keep the ball the Packer’s possession.

Portillo, Uziel Garcia-Diaz, Hudson Glenn and Bennett Goss all booted the ball, utilized long, arching passes to clear the ball.

Slide tackles were also used throughout the game by Ramirez, Banks Flowers and Christian Nunez.

The Packers next play on Monday when they will travel to Cairo.

Friday Feb. 23, at 7 p.m. is the next home game. The Packers will face Lowndes in the first region game of the season.