Holmstrom Nets a Beauty For Boys' Soccer

Hunter Holmstrom is known best for his defensive work with the boys’ soccer team. Working on the outside, Holstrom is a sturdy defender who gets the job done day in and day out, even if he isn’t flashy.

However, one would be hard-pressed to find a goal any prettier than the one Holstrom delivered Wednesday during the Eagles’ 5-1 win over Collingswood in Colonial Conference action.

With the game tied 1-1, Holmstrom took a pass from Kyle Redrow on the outside of the 18, cut inside and sent a missile into the far left corner of the net.

The perfection of the shot even caught Holmstrom off guard.

“The first thing I thought was just to cut back, because I knew (the defender) thought I was going to take it to the corner,” Holmstrom said. “I just tried to hit the ball and it went in. I was pretty surprised myself, actually.”

Redrow knows plenty about scoring goals, as he led the team in scoring a year ago and is currently leading the team this season. Even he couldn’t help but smile at Holmstrom’s goal.

“Honestly, I would have never have guessed it,” said Redrow. “When I saw him let it go off his left foot, I just turned to crash and he just buried it. It was beautiful.”

The goal seemed to pump up the rest of the squad, as the Eagles fired in three more goals in the half. Redrow was the leading force with a goal to go with three assists. He also had a part in the fifth goal to cap off his day.

Rather than take any credit for the goals, Redrow directed it to midfielders Evan Fahey and Tim Krott for getting plays started. Head coach Ryan Dougherty was not happy with the passing from his midfielders in the opening minutes of the game, but the unit quickly came together and put on a clinic for the final 30 minutes of the first half.

“We had a lot of trouble settling in the first five or 10 minutes, but once we started settling in, our two midfielders, Evan and Krott, got it done and they started to struggle with us,” Redrow said. “Any team would struggle against our midfield.”

West Deptford also got goals from Joey Pinto, Joe Mingrino and Lewis Hunter as the game was all but put away by halftime.

The win leaves the Eagles at 9-5-1 heading into a big contest against Haddon Heights on Monday. The two teams played to a scoreless draw earlier in the season, and Dougherty told his team it is a must-win this time around, with the playoffs creeping closer.

Based on their earlier encounter, Redrow is confident the Eagles can pull out a win.

“I saw we had a lot of chances along the end line,” said Redrow. “I think we will be able to put a few in on our home field.”

With a division title out of the question, Holmstrom said the teams focus is squarely on getting the team where it needs to be for the playoffs.

“(Improving for the playoffs) is definitely the most important thing for us to do right now,” said Holmstrom. “There not much else for us to do after what we have been through.”