Two of the top teams in Class AA/A boys soccer squared off on the pitch Thursday evening as Huntington St. Joe and ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Catholic met.
St. Joe got second-half goals from Brier Wagner and Hudson Moosavi to boost the Irish past ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Catholic, 3-1, at Schoenbaum Stadium.
Wagner produced two goals on Thursday, with his other one coming off a kick from the spot in the first half.
"I was super impressed with how we stuck together and played hard," St. Joe coach Nicholas Turner said. "We didn't give in to the way they play and handle things. Don't get me wrong, ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Catholic has an amazing program and have won so many state championships. That's where we want to be. We want to be where ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Catholic is, and we're certainly heading in the right direction with the team we have that's stuck together over the years.
"We're reaping the benefits from our core staying together. We definitely have big aspirations this year. We had an upsetting end to last year, and we were looking forward to getting back to it and, hopefully, go farther this year."
ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Catholic falls to 1-1-2 and has split its last two games.
Catholic's lone goal came in the first half from Mateen Summers just over 16 minutes into the game.
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"St. Joe gave us a really good challenge," Catholic coach Justin Jun said. "They pressed really well. That's something that we have to improve moving forward. We have to be able to adjust to that. We're trying to implement playing out of the back. Kudos to St. Joe."
Jun is in his first season with ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Catholic, as he replaced Joe Johns during the offseason. He is only four games into his first season but has been impressed with the group he has.
"It's all learning. It's a new philosophy that we're playing this year," Jun said. "The boys are doing a great job adjusting. Obviously, learning a new philosophy takes time. Every day is a learning day."
St. Joe took the early advantage when Wagner got the first goal with 26:28 left in the opening half.
Wagner's second goal to begin the second half started to create momentum and separation for St. Joe, which led to the Moosavi score four minutes later.
"Once we got that second goal to make it 2-1, I definitely felt the momentum shift," Turner said. "Then, we kept going at them. We had quick, beautiful and clinical finishes, which is what we talk about. We had some great opportunities in the first half, but we had to be more clinical in front of the net. We capitalized there and showed composure the rest of the way.
"We also bunkered down in the last 15 minutes and held strong."
