The Fallon varsity boys' soccer team gave an unexpected gift to Galena Tuesday afternoon in Fallon.
The Grizzlies took advantage of Fallon's poor shot selection and mental mistakes by winning the High Desert League game 5-1. Galena improves to 3-0 in league, 3-1-1 overall, whereas Fallon slips to 1-2 in league, 2-2 overall.
Even though Fallon outshot Galena 27-17, Fallon coach Nate Waite said his team's shooting wasn't impressive.
"What cost us our goals was the team abandoning the game plan," said Waite. "If we can't control their minds, they can't control the game."
Defensive gems from the Grizzlies stopped the Greenwave from converting their shots in goals. Galena's Daniel Timko frustrated Fallon's forwards as the senior goalie made countless and crucial saves.
"We pride ourselves on the defense," said Galena coach Marko Merlo. "We moved the ball pretty well and we had a good mix on offense."
In the ninth minute of the game, Fallon's Kevin Whitaker used James Stubbs' dropped assist to drill a near-impossible shot into the top-right corner of the net.
"Kevin had a good shot and it was a good drop from James," Waite said.
"That was the best goal in high school I've seen in a long time," Merlo said of Whitaker's goal.
Galena responded quickly and three minutes later, Dan Hedrick tied the game off Luis Nunez's pass. In a span of two minutes, Brett Willson and Hedrick pounded two goals past Travis Fields to give the Grizzlies a 3-1 lead. Ricky Martinez scored the fourth goal of the game just before the first half ended.
Fallon's defense stepped up in the second half in allowing just one goal. Adam Schuveiller found Mario Harker for the score in the 57th minute.
