BOYS SOCCER: Miller’s 1st-half hat trick lifts Wilson

FISHERSVILLE — Josh Miller had a first half to remember for Wilson Memorial on Tuesday as the Hornets took on district rival Riverheads in the opening round of the Shenandoah District tournament.

By halftime Miller had a hat trick for the Green Hornets and five different Hornets scored in the win over the Gladiators 7-3, advancing to the next round of the district tournament.

“Josh [Miller] had an awesome game. I didn’t even realize until halftime that he had scored a hat trick,” Wilson head coach Kyle Congleton said. “Our seniors really wanted this game. Everyone played together and played to their potential.”

Wilson opened the match with pressure as Grant Davis gave the Hornets the first scoring chance with a blast that drilled the crossbar, but Riverheads keeper John Mahaney was on his toes early and made a couple of big saves for the Gladiators. Mahaney made a diving stop on a shot from Quinton Knott that sparked energy into Riverheads players.

The Gladiators brushed off the early pressure from the Green Hornets and before long Riverheads fed off the emotion of the play of their keeper, as Joey Waltz put the Gladiators up 1-0 on a turnover by the keeper Will Baker.

“Wilson put some real pressure on us early. It doesn’t feel too good when they are pressuring you from the very start,” said Riverheads coach Dickie Bell. “I thought once we got the lead that early we would be set to go, but we just fell flat.”

The goal did not take any wind out of the Green Hornets’ sail as Miller had the equalizer only moments later. Miller blasted a shot from outside the box that went far corner, into the back of the onion bag, tying the game up at one a piece.

Riverheads took the lead again as Riley Fisher went top shelf over the hands of Baker and into the back of the net giving the Gladiators the 2-1 lead, but it would go downhill from there for Riverheads.

The Hornets once again did not take long to respond as Miller blasted home two more goals before the half giving him the hat trick, and Sam Bowman put in his second of the year as the Green Hornets went into the half up 4-2.

“We came out strong tonight and communicated as a team. I felt that our team was kind of getting down on themselves early so it was important for me to get things going,” said Miller. “It was a real team effort. We wanted to keep the pressure on them and were able to get the win.”

The second half belonged to the Hornets. Davis opened the second half with a goal and a couple of minutes later Knott put the Hornets up 6-2. Riverheads Michael Gowen added a late goal for the Gladiators, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Green Hornets’ huge lead. Wil Hall added the final tally of the match in stoppage time for the 7-3 win.