A Saints player takes a corner kick. (Karem Brown|mountolivetribune.com)
Jefferson Morales taking a big kick for the Saints. (Kareem Brown|mountolivetribune.com)
A Saints defender is trying to get after the ball as the Warriors have possession. (Kareem Brown|mountolivetribune.com)
First Half: Early Momentum and Even Battle
The Southern Wayne Saints opened the match with strong possession and immediate offensive pressure. Their efforts paid off early, as No. 7 Miguel Montalvo found the back of the net at the 20:43 mark, assisted by No. 10 Jaime Martinez, giving the Saints a 1–0 lead.
Hunt responded with increased physicality and counterattacks. The Warriors eventually broke through, scoring at the 15:19 mark off a header by No. 12 Jay Bryant, tying the game at 1–1.
The Warriors continued to threaten with a penalty kick opportunity, but the shot sailed high. Minutes later, a corner kick was placed well into the box, but the Saints’ keeper came up with another key save. The Warriors kept up the pressure, but a miscommunication on a pass ended another scoring chance.
Southern Wayne regained composure late in the half, recovering possession and pushing forward, but neither side could capitalize before halftime. The first half ended in a 1–1 stalemate with both keepers coming up big for their teams.
Second Half: Warriors Pull Ahead
The Warriors came out aggressively to start the second half but were repeatedly flagged offside, stalling early momentum. The Saints answered with a strong run from No. 10 Jaime Martinez, whose shot on goal forced a save by the Warriors’ keeper. Southern Wayne continued to press, but a fast break opportunity went just high.
Both teams continued to trade possession in a back-and-forth midfield battle. The Warriors earned a few chances off fouls, but the Saints’ defense highlighted by a key stop from No. 4 Jayden Bond kept them level temporarily.
However, the breakthrough came when Hunt capitalized at the 18:53 mark, taking a 2–1 lead. Once ahead, the Warriors began to slow the tempo, using long clearances and time management to control the pace of play.
The Saints increased pressure late and gained several opportunities off fouls and restarts, but Hunt’s defense held strong. A final push by Southern Wayne was stopped in the closing minutes, and with just seconds remaining, the Warriors added one final goal to seal the victory.
Final Score: Southern Wayne 1, Hunt 3
Post Game Interview
After the game, I caught up with Head Coach Luis Ramirez of the Southern Wayne Saints for his thoughts on the performance. “Yeah, we came up short in this one but the guys we had out there showed a ton of heart and spirit.” Coach Ramirez stated.
The team is currently dealing with multiple suspensions, but Coach Ramirez praised the group for continuing to battle despite being shorthanded. “We’re suffering from the suspension bug right now, but our guys are still working hard without some of our regular starters,” he added.
Coach Ramirez emphasized that the focus remains on growth and consistency heading into the final stretch of the season. “We’re going to keep working hard and improving every day and every game,” he said. “I’m very proud of the effort today. We’ve got a few more games left, let’s finish strong and hopefully punch our ticket to the playoffs down the stretch.”
