PEARCY — In the Bryant Hornets’ game on Monday, a 5-0 win over Pulaski Academy, they[more] welcomed back goalkeeper Slade Lewis, who has been out with an injury for quite a while now. On Tuesday, head coach Jason Hay was reminded why he stationed Lewis in front of the goal to start the year.
The junior had 14 saves against the Lake Hamilton Wolves in Bryant’s 5-0 win at Lake Hamilton as the Hornets improved to 18-2-1 on the season and 12-1 in conference play going into their regular-season and conference finale on Friday at home against El Dorado.
“He had a really good game,” said Hay of Lewis. “Several of those saves were really good. It’s good to have him back.
“That’s a big key,” he asserted. “We’ve had some guys come in and do a good job filling in for Slade but he’s the man. He really came in and did a good job especially after being out so long.”
The shutout was the fourth in the last five matches for Bryant — the Hornets only allowed one in the fifth of those — and their 13th of the season. Only twice this season as an opponent scored as many as two goals.
It didn’t take long for the Hornets to get on the board. Less than four minutes into the game, Blake Reed popped one past the Lake Hamilton keeper off an assist from Josh Lowery. Midway through the first half, Evan Caddy found the range with Cameron Furton assisting. In short order, Josh Lowery scored off the first of two assists by Dylan Wolf with 17:01 left in the half to make it 3-0, a score that held until the break.
In the second half, Wolf scored at 15:30 with Bryce Denker getting the assist. That duo switched roles 25 second later as Wolf assisted on Denker’s goal, which set the final score.
The Bryant junior varsity team finished its season unbeaten and unscored upon with a 1-0 win in an abbreviated match. Bradley Oldham found the back of the net for the lone goal at the 10:15 mark of the 40-minute contest.
