By By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Writer
A slow start set back the Pam Pack as J.H. Rose netted two early goals en rout to a 5-1 win over Washington on Wednesday.
The Rampants’ Michael Phillips was able to slide past the Pam Pack defense less than seven minutes into the match to put J.H. Rose on the board first. Phillips then followed up with his second score of the night at the 15:25 mark to put Rose ahead 2-0.
The Rampants came out firing early and often, slipping through the Pack’s trap defense and often leaving Washington goalie Steven Worsley to fend for himself.
Kozuch said right now his young team is still going through some growing pains.
Three of the five goals Washington let up occurred when Worsley had to leave his post to chase a loose ball up field, and in effect played chicken with the Rampants attackers.
Kozuch said that his goalie was not out of position, and that he made the right call in coming out for the ball. The Pack coach said his team plays a lot of risk/reward defense and that tonight it just happen to be more risk than reward.
Rose’s Will Green netted a goal in between Phillips’ two, and the Rampants netted their fourth goal of the half when Scott Barker busted the Pack trap for a quick score. With under 10 seconds left in the first half, Washington caught some life when Bladimer Romero removed the zero from the Pam Pack’s scoring column.
The Pack went into the break down 3-1, and came out playing more inspired defense. Washington was not allowing as many good looks at the net as it did in the first half, however, it wasn’t getting many itself.
Kozuch said he was pleased to see his team tighten up in the second half, as it let up only one goal.
Washington won’t have long to dwell on its loss, as it will be back in action today when it travels to Edenton to take on the aces.