Hatboro-Horsham starts fast, tops Upper Dublin

UPPER DUBLIN >> Whatever the Hatboro-Horsham boys soccer team said before breaking their huddle against Upper Dublin worked.

The Hatters scored goals in the first two minutes of each half to takes control and beat the Cardinals, 3-2, in Suburban One League American Conference play Thursday afternoon at Upper Dublin High School.

“We always want to start games on the front foot with high intensity,” Hatboro-Horsham coach Kyle McGrath said. “We were able to score early. We did the same thing on Tuesday and sometimes that backfires a little bit and you go into a shell and relax. I think we did that and Upper Dublin rightfully so scored in the first half. The halftime speech was we need to pick it up and be better in the second half. To get the early goal was key and then Bradan (Mallon) scored a great goal for the third one.”

Sophomore Nate Scavo got the scoring started in the first half. The forward ripped a low shot from 25 yards out wide on the right side that got through Upper Dublin’s goalie to make it 1-0.

“I wanted to shoot it lower and harder because it was wet out,” Scavo said. “It just bounced right through his legs.”

After halftime, with the score tied 1-1, Scavo was at it again. He corralled the ball off a throw-in in front of the net, found space and scored to make it 2-1.

“(Scavo) had a great preseason,” McGrath said. “He really impressed us all summer long at our optional workouts. He earned a starting spot. He’s a kid who works his tail off and it’s good to see him get on the score sheet because he creates a lot of opportunities.”

“We have to come out a little more focused,” Upper Dublin coach Andy Meehan said. “I’ll take full responsibility for that. A coach should have their team ready. It’s something that we just didn’t do. They scored on a freak goal in the first, went right between the keeper’s arms and legs, and the other one they just got on top of us early. It’s inexcusable as a team in general, but more often it’s on the coach. I’ll take complete responsibility for that.”

The Hatters (7-2-1, 6-1-1 SOL American) added an insurance goal later in the second half. Mallon, a senior forward, found the upper right corner from the left side to make it a 3-1 lead.

Josiah Kutai scored both goals for the Cardinals (5-6, 5-3 SOL American). His first, a one-touch to put a cross into the back of the net, tied the game at one late in the first half. His second, a header after the ball bounced off the crossbar, cut Upper Dublin’s deficit to one, 3-2, in the latter part of the second half.

“(Kutai is) good,” Meehan said. “He starts certain games and he comes off the bench. He an excellent change of pace. He’s always pushing the back line and finding the back of the net. With the two today I think he’s had three or four in the season so far. He’s someone that if we’re down one, we can throw him on and we know we’ll get scoring opportunities from him.”

That’s as close as the Cardinals would get. Over the final 15 minutes they had some opportunities but couldn’t find the back of the net. They received two yellow cards and one red card in the final seven minutes to hurt their chances at a rally.

“We had our chances to tie it up,” Meehan said. “We just couldn’t find the back of the net.”