In a matchup between two teams that have scored 31 combined goals through eight games, it almost wasn’t a surprise to see the game’s first goal scored so quickly. Gus Langford’s early tally was his team-leading fifth of the season just 57 seconds into the game.

The Islanders’ senior trio of Wyatt Gese, Andre Clifton and Langford, who eventually scored the team’s second (and game-winning) goal, urged the team to keep a level head after the early goal. With DeLaSalle and Richfield each averaging around four goals per game in the early goings of the season, offensive power could come from anyone at any time.

“Gus worked hard for that goal, but it was kind of gifted to us to happen right away,” Gese said. “We knew after that, we had to keep it together for the rest of the game. We know Richfield is a great team and we just had to hold it together.”

After intercepting an errant pass from a Richfield defender, Langford broke free from the opposing players and beat Richfield goaltender Carlos Luiz Ibarra to give the Islanders that early lead.

“A chance like that doesn’t really come often,” Langford said. “We don’t know what the team is like yet, so after scoring it was just important to keep the mentality straight, like it was still 0-0, and work hard.”

Gus Langford scored two goals to lead DeLaSalle past Richfield Thursday evening at Richfield High School. 

DeLaSalle, ranked No. 6 in the Class 2A coaches’ poll from Sept. 6, extended its undefeated status this season to four games while handing No. 2-2A Richfield, last year’s Tri-Metro Conference champions, its first loss of the season.  

Langford is the Islanders' leading scorer through four games, surpassing his total of four goals all of last season with six already through four games this year.

Senior Belal Elghorab scored Richfield’s only goal late in the first half. The loss marked the first defeat of the season for the Spartans.

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