Blazers blow out Bengals

SEPT 23, BLAZER STADIUM-

The boys' varsity soccer team handled Blake High School tonight, finishing the game with a 5-goal run in the last ten minutes to complete the shutout, 7-0, at home.

Senior midfielder Dennis Salgado started the scoring with the first goal of the game with seven minutes left in the first half. Junior forward Pape Ndiaye followed with two goals in the second half, along with goals from seniors Keith Larkin (who also had an assist), Tesfaye Yehualashet, and Oscar Ortiz. Junior Jack Eisen-Markowitz also added a goal.

The Blazers' late surge in the second half (six goals) was the result of few practices in the past week due to Hurricane Isabel, according to senior starting goalie Lino Martinez. "Our intensity was low at first," Martinez explains, "but it picked up. Our lack of practice showed, since it took a while to get back in the groove."

It seemed every player on the field for Blair added to the win, including goals by six different players. Defense was solid throughout, but it often wasn't necessary since the ball stayed on Blake's side of the field for much of the game.

The blowout may have impressed Blair fans and depressed Blake fans, but Coach Adrian Baez is not satisfied. "We still need to work on playing in the first half the same way we do in the second half," Baez commented. On Blair's next game, Baez said, "Magruder is a very tough opponent. We must close the gaps in the field and capitalize on offensive opportunities."

The margin of victory sends a clear message to Blair's divisional opponents, according to Martinez. "This was our way of showing the upper-county schools to watch out," Martinez said, "because we're coming."