SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — As much as Nativity coach Paul Datte would like his players to show more possession, he knows it’s the transition game that has led to the Hilltoppers’ success this season.
The transition game prevailed again Tuesday in Nativity’s 4-1 Schuylkill League victory over Schuylkill Haven at Rotary Field. Rodrigo Sanchez had two goals for the Hilltoppers, which moved four points ahead of the Hurricanes and Williams Valley for the Division II lead.
Schuylkill Haven dominated possession throughout the game, but had trouble beating Nativity goalkeeper Junior Menjivar. Meanwhile, between the Hurricanes’ possessions, the Hilltoppers struck.
“I’m not happy with it, but we have a tendency to do more of our scoring in transition,” Datte said. “We obviously practice trying to move the ball on the ground and move up, and we’ve been very successful in some games and less successful in others.
“Schuylkill Haven is a
very good team. They’re very good defensively and very good in the midfield. You have to take your opportunities when they present themselves. If that means transition, then it’s transition. But I can’t argue with 4-1.”
Haven (7-6-1, 5-2 D-II) controlled the ball for almost the entire opening 10 minutes Tuesday, getting three quality chances from Dawson Evitts and Owen Pothering off throw-ins and from a 25-yard line drive by Roberto Uribe.
Nativity (10-3, 7-0) finally got its footing in the 11th minute and began creating scoring chances for lethal forward Ricardo Chagolla that got closer and closer to goal.
The Hilltoppers broke through in the 22nd minute on a corner by Alvaro Mendez. The out-swinging delivery fell to big fullback Jorge Nechar, who had his first shot attempt blocked before burying the rebound in the upper netting.
A minute later, Pothering deflected a free kick off the wall, but the rebound dropped into Menjivar’s arms. The Hurricanes had a half-dozen free kicks in dangerous positions throughout the game, but were either narrowly off target or snuffed out by Menjivar and the Nativity defense.
Menjivar has started the last five games for the Hilltoppers in place of injured No. 1 goalkeeper Eric Nelson.
“We had the chances, we didn’t score,” Schuylkill Haven coach Vanco Georgevic said. “(Menjivar) positioned himself well enough to stop some of those shots we had.”
“They were able to put the ball in the net and we weren’t. Period,” Georgevic added.
Nativity put the ball in the net again in the 25th minute. Alfredo Diaz danced inside a defender down the right touch line and found Sanchez in the middle of the field. Sanchez pulled the ball back to change the angle before firing his shot into the lower left corner for a 2-0 lead.
Two minutes later, Cristian Vazquez threaded a ball through the Haven back line for Chagolla to chase. He finally caught up to it at the end line and poked it behind Hurricane keeper Cole Handling.
Schuylkill Haven cut the lead to 3-1 in the 32nd minute when Ben Connors scored through traffic from an Evitts corner. The Hurricanes got two more good shots before halftime, but couldn’t convert.
“I knew that was going to come back and bite us,” Georgevic said.
It did. Though Haven again dominated possession in the second half, it couldn’t get any closer to Nativity’s lead. The Hilltoppers’ defense did a better job of clearing the ball away in the second half and Menjivar made three good saves.
Sanchez scored the game’s final goal in the 60th minute, cutting in from the left wing and shooting across his body into the lower left corner.
Schuylkill Haven now has to fight for its Schuylkill League playoff life in today’s game against Williams Valley (6-6, 5-2). A win against the Vikings, who have won three straight, puts the Hurricanes in the driver’s seat for the Division II wild card.
“Hopefully they’ll be back (today) and put the ball in the net,” Georgevic said. “Williams Valley is right on the edge for that second spot. It’s going to be a different ball game (today).”
Meanwhile, a Nativity victory over Lourdes today all but guarantees the Hilltoppers the Division II title. But none of their remaining three games will be givens. In their first meetings, Nativity trailed Lourdes late in the first half, was outplayed by Williams Valley in the second half and was taken to overtime by Tri-Valley.
“This was the primary obstacle to winning Division II, but we’re not taking any of these three remaining games for granted,” Datte said. “Definitely not.”
Game Summary
Nativity (10-3, 7-0) 3 1 — 4
Sch. Haven (7-6-1, 5-2) 1 0 — 1
Nat — Nechar (unassisted), 22nd minute
Nat — Sanchez (Diaz), 25th minute
Nat — Chagolla (Vazquez), 27th minute
SH — Connors (unassisted), 32nd minute
Nat — Sanchez (unassisted), 60th minute
Shots on goal: Nativity 7, Schuylkill Haven 9. Corner kicks: Nativity 2, Schuylkill Haven 5. Saves: Nativity (Menjivar) 8, Schuylkill Haven (C. Handling 3, McGee 0) 3.
JV: Nativity 4-0