Soccer Team Soars on Pink Arrow Night
Justin Scott - Sports Reporter
9/16/2024
16 goals was the result of last week’s offensive output for the Red Arrow soccer team, continuing the rollercoaster of competition that is the River Cities Alliance. Allendale is the RCA’s lone state ranked team, checking in at 14th in the state in division two. They beat Lowell 8-0. Coopersville and Cedar Springs were narrow losses for Lowell. Kenowa Hills, a relatively comfortable 3-0 win. Sparta and Greenville though, Lowell had their way with.
Lowell hosted Greenville on Pink Arrow night, a contest that featured two goals, one by either team in the first two minutes before things settled down. The Red Arrows began to assert themselves in the game, winning 8-1.
There was a bit of a training day type vibe to the second half. Lowell was up 6-1, 7-1, 8-1, comfortable margins, rotating in players and seeming to enjoy the spotlight in front of their fans. Weather was certainly not a problem for this year’s event as the sun set on the North Athletic Complex during the second half.
After running through the Pink Arrow banner pre-game, Lowell took the field and was on the board in the first 60 seconds. Nacho Casanueva Abollado hit a cross body strike to put Lowell in front. A rare defensive lapse tied the game almost immediately after, both teams scoring within the first 100 seconds of the game.
Every Pink Arrow, there's the always emotional honoree ceremony. Just a few moments following that, you're in action on the field.
It was all Lowell after the Greenville goal. Max Fegel gave Lowell the lead before Nacho added a second to make it 3-1. Joey Prins hit on a long strike and captain Ben Homolka capitalized on an excellent pass from Abollado. Final goal of the first half came from senior Carlos Jimenez, giving Lowell a 6-1 lead before halftime.
Second half goals came from Ben Cross, his first career goal, and Fegel added a second to close the scoring. Cross would joke with his teammates about not knowing what to do after scoring, the defender not used to being in that position.
Against Sparta earlier in the week, Lowell again scored within the first minute as they mercied Sparta on the road 8-0. Max Wasilew scored his first goals of the season, netting two in the victory. He also played one of the main roles of last year’s high school musical, starring as Lumiere in LHS’ Beauty and the Beast last spring.
Pistachio Gonzales, known as Petey by his teammates, also found the back of the net. You can also see Gonzales on the wrestling mat this winter. They were joined by Fegel, Nacho, Prins (2), and Homolka.
The Red Arrows are situated firmly midpack in the River Cities, with a game against Coopersville this week.
