The Buckeye Valley boys soccer team struggled to match the intensity of Independence and ultimately fell 4-2 in its home opener Wednesday night in Delaware.
Kelvin Kollie scored two goals and assisted on another — all in the second half — to lead the 76ers (4-1), who were playing the second of three games in three days.
“We talked a lot at halftime that we needed to put more pressure on the ball,” Barons coach Eric Staley said. “It would have been nice if we could have been a little more aggressive and match their intensity.”
Edwin Brown put Independence on the board on a shot to the high right for a 1-0 lead with 9:17 left in the first half.
“We couldn’t clear the ball and they took advantage of that,” Staley said.
Aspen Schneller corralled a rebound off a free kick and sent it on goal to tie it for the Barons (3-3) about nine minutes into the second half.
“He wasn’t afraid to go after the ball,” Staley said. “(Independence was) unable to clear the ball, and you just go after it and make sure you get to it first, and that’s what he did.”
N’Fally Diallo outraced the defense on the left side and beat the goalie to the right to give Independence the lead with 25:34 left.
“Diallo was the guy we were keying on and when he finally scored, I think we were looking (for him to) pass,” Staley said.
Kollie sent a perfect shot that snuck between BV goalie Caleb King’s outstretched hand and the crossbar to extend the lead with 9:13 left.
Amadou Sy sent in a post-to-post pass that allowed Kollie to tap it in for his second goal a little more than two minutes later.
Anthony Seliskar scored to smooth out BV’s scoring summary.
The Barons had won three straight by a combined score of 16-0 coming in and started the season with their first five on the road. The good news is they play their next five at home.
The Barons host Johnstown-Monroe in non-league action Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.
