By Kevin Eckleberry

kevin.eckleberry@lagrangenews.com

LAGRANGE – The LaGrange Grangers found the goal twice in the final 20 minutes of Wednesday’s home soccer match against the Callaway Cavaliers, and they went on to claim a 2-0 victory in the county showdown.

Logan Lopez and Michael Everett each scored goals for the Grangers, who are off to a 5-1-1 start.

LaGrange controlled the match and had numerous scoring opportunities, but with less than 20 minutes to play, it had yet to score, and that was a credit to Callaway’s defense, including goal keeper Hugo Lopez who had a strong effort.

The Grangers kept attacking, though, and they broke through for a pair of goals to secure

the win at Callaway Stadium.

“We’re still not scoring as we ought to,” LaGrange coach Keita Placide said. “The score could have easily been five or six. So, its’ a work in progress.”

Still, Placide is pleased with the scoring opportunities his team is getting.

“We had a lot of chances,” Placide said. “Last year we couldn’t generate that type of opportunity. This year you’re seeing it. It’s what are you doing to make sure you finish it.”

Placide added that “the soccer IQ of my team is higher. We’ve been grooming kids from last year. They’re finally getting the idea of the game.”

Callaway was missing a handful of players for various reasons, but it hung in there the whole way, which pleased head coach Mike Petite.

“I like how hard we fought,” Petite said. “We competed all day. Specifically, defensively, we rotated really, really well, we communicated really well. And we were able to hold them out for a really long time.”

Petite said Lopez, the Cavaliers’ junior goal keeper, “had a great game. He comes out, and does a really good job for us. I’m happy with how well he plays.”

Petite was also pleased with the effort of freshman Tavian Smiley.

“He had probably one of his best games with talking to his group of guys back there,” Petite said.

The Cavaliers didn’t have as many scoring chances as the Grangers, but they did have their opportunities.

It was still a scoreless game when a Callaway free kick banged off the left goal post.

LaGrange scored the go-ahead goal a short time later.

OF NOTE: For more photos from the game, check out facebook.com/LDNSports