In jumping out to a 4-0 first half lead, University Heights Academy soccer coach Mike Smith said his Blazer squad played their best 40 minutes of the season. The second 40 wasn’t bad either as UHA beat Graves County 5-1 Saturday at Givens Field.
Tanner Thomas scored inside the game’s first minute to set the tone for a Blazer team that was coming off a 3-0 district loss to Hopkinsville earlier in the week.
Ian Calvert, who had missed the Blazers’ previous two games because of a red card infraction, made his return with an assist to Will Bryan for a Blazer goal in the ninth minute for a 2-0 UHA lead.
Elvin Wagner got in on the scoring fun when he sprinted down the right side and drilled home a goal for a 3-0 lead midway through the first half. Bryan and Calvert would team up on another goal eight minutes later when a Calvert free kick bounced in the goal box for Bryan to punch home.
Any chance Graves County had at a second half comeback was quickly squashed when Calvert scored in the 42nd minute for a 5-0 Blazer lead.
Graves County (7-4) did punch home a goal later in the half, but the Blazer defense and goalie Dan Johnson kept the Eagles off the scoreboard the rest of the way. Included was a Johnson save on a penalty kick.
University Heights (7-2) will host Henderson County Thursday in a girl/boy doubleheader at Givens Field.
