Chiefs open with a ‘tricky’ win against Long Trail

By Greg Hart
Telegraph sports editor

Hat tricks are a rare achievement at any level. Scoring three goals is a tough thing to do for a team, never mind an individual. But what about a hat trick of hat tricks? Three goals each by three players? Unheard of. Until now.

Chad Leonard, Jake Cavacas and Addison Provance had three goals apiece Tuesday, Sept. 4, as the Green Mountain varsity boys soccer team, the Chieftains, dominated Long Trail on the Dorset field in a smashing 9-2 win.

The Chiefs scored early – 15 seconds in – and often, with a disciplined attack showcasing the style of play the team had been drilled in during practices.

“It’s nice to see what we’ve been working on in practice translate so well in our first game,” said GM coach Scott Walker, referring to the team’s efforts to control the ball, play in space and make aggressive runs on through balls to best utilize their speed up front.

It was a great start to the season but, after the game, Walker downplayed the big opening win. And while the coach wants to build on the confidence a game like this brings, he is working hard at making sure his team knows it won’t always go so well, and is wary of his young team becoming overconfident.

Walker also stressed that even though three players had scored all the goals, he would never have a “superstar” on a team he was coaching and noted that everyone on the team must do his job for the team to be successful as a whole. “We did the things successful soccer teams do and we did them well,” said the coach after the game.

After a win like this, the Chiefs may be a little too confident for the coach’s liking, and even though they are wary of the pitfalls that such a dominating effort may bring, both coach and team are clearly pleased with this start to the season. And they should be. A complete game of disciplined soccer, communicating well and executing a game plan to perfection is something to feel good about and build on for the rest of the season.

The Chiefs next game begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, at Twin Valley High in Wilmington.