UVC Boys Soccer Team Kicks Off Season with 6-1 Win Over South Umpqua
The Umpqua Valley Christian boys soccer team opened up their season with 6-1 win over South Umpqua in Myrtle Creek on Thursday afternoon. Blake Withers led the Monarchs with two goals and two assists while Sam Guastaferro added two goals of his own. “We we’re all looking forward to this game, cause it’s the first OSAA game we have played in over a year in any sport,” UVC coach Chris Guastaferro said. “They were so excited to be out there, they wanted to be competitive with a purpose. We played a good one in our first game.” UVC (1-0) had 15 shots on goal, with Blake Withers scoring the first goal of the match in the 26th minute off an assist from Koby Sewall. Sam Guastaferro scored in the 31st minute for UVC while Sewall added another goal in the 33rd minute. Joshua Salchenberg scored in the 56th minute on an assist from Withers. Withers scored again in the 60th minute. Guastaferro scored again in the 70th minute on an assist from Withers. “My two wings Sam and Blake, and our center defensive back Pierce Gettys (5 shots on goal), we had a lot of strength in that triangle,” Chris Guastaferro said. “They were strong today. Sewall was attacking in center midfield, Devin McLaughlin also had a lot of great esupport, a lot of short passes, possession game. Wear down the other team, find holes and then score.” UVC has 10 seniors on this years team and five underclassmen. South Umpqua formed a co-op with Canyonville Academy, where the teams can play together when there aren’t enough players to play. South Umpqua had 11 players total on the team. South Umpqua (0-1) had one shot on goal while goalie Tony Bitonti had six saves for the Lancers. Damien Ahn scored the Lancers lone goal in the 58th minute. UVC plays Douglas next Tuesday at Fir Grove at 4 p.m. No fans are allowed at the games in the Extreme Risk level currently. The Monarchs are scheduled for nine games with a possible 10th championship game depending on Special District 4 standings. Photos Courtesy of Ray Hull. Pictured for UVC #7 Koby Sewall, #15 Sam Guastaferro and #12 Josh Salchenberg.