Stillwater's Miguel Caravias takes a penalty shot in the second half of the Ponies' 3-0 victory at Park of Cottage Grove. Caravias' goal didn't count, but he scored on the re-kick. Photo by Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine
Park's Joey Schult headed a throw-in in front of Stillwater's Colman Farrington (19). Farrington scored the Ponies' first goal in the opening minutes. Photo by Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine
Unbeaten and ranked No. 1 in the Class 2A coaches’ poll, Stillwater has maintained its lofty stature by doing what Ponies coach Jake Smothers said his team loves to do: Play soccer.
“In all honesty, they’re not putting any pressure on themselves about being undefeated or being No. 1,” Smothers said Tuesday night after Stillwater shut out Park of Cottage Grove 3-0 in Suburban East Conference action at Park High School.
“They just want to keep playing soccer.”
The Ponies dominated in every facet of the game en route to their ninth shutout this season.
“We defend with the ball,” Smothers said of his team’s penchant for keeping opponents from scoring. “That’s how we’ve been controlling the game is through our midfield and through our attack.”
Stillwater (13-0-0, 5-0-0) also benefited when seniors Kohei Adams and Miguel Caravias each converted a penalty kick in the second half.
“We had (Park) confined to their area for most of the game, and (we) were trying to flood players into the attacking third and into the box to create some more chances,” Smothers said. “If it wasn’t going to be a penalty, it was going to be a shot.”
Senior midfielder Colman Farrington opened the scoring with a goal just over two minutes into the first half.
Ponies goalkeeper Calvin Robinson finished with four saves while goalie Jason Greeder tallied 10 for the Wolfpack (7-5-1, 2-3-1).