Torch FC Earns Three Points on the Road and First Victory of the 2017 Season

BuxMont Torch FC won a 3-2 showdown against Hershey FC at Hershey High School Stadium. Torch FC came out strong from the start using the speed of wingers Cody Boerema and Thiago Dos Santos. Dos Santos was able to easily run past the Hershey FC defense only to be fouled inside the 18 by a defender trying to stop his chances of scoring. With only two minutes passed, Torch FC had an opportunity to go 1-nil when Phil Hagerty took the penalty shot, only to be saved by Hershey keeper.

In the sixth minute, Dos Santos again took a chance at the defense from the right side and was able to cross a beautiful ground ball across the goal to Phil Shafer, who scored his first goal of the season against his former team at his first career appearance for Torch FC.

The two Shafer brothers, Phil and David, had great chemistry and were able to control much of the ball for Torch FC in the middle and final third. David Shafer found a whole in the middle of the defense to dribble his way past the defenders and beat the goalkeeper to score his first goal of the season in the 42nd minute of the game.

With the substitution of Phil Shafer late in the 72nd minute, Pedro Sousa brought some energy and scoring opportunities from the bench.  After seven minutes of play a cross by Man of the Match nominee David Shafer found the head of Sousa for his first goal of the season.

Josh Coupar, a center back for Torch FC was excited about the final result.

“It felt great to get a first win in a Torch shirt. It wasn’t the perfect performance but I think we produced some good soccer that we can build upon in the games to come.”

Coach Sparling was equally impressed with the victory.

“Hershey is a good team. They are strong, fast and very skilled, so I was very happy with how we held up under their attack. Jumping out to a 2-0 advantage on a fantastic cross from Thiago dos Santos to Phil Shafer, and then a scrappy unassisted goal by David Shafer, could have taken Hershey out of the game. But it didn’t and they fought back to tie the game up 2-2. This is where I believe the character of our team helped us not allow their momentum to swing the game in their favor, and we regained the lead on a pass from David Shafer to Pedro Sousa. The win was great especially after our sloppy performance at Junior Lone Star. What excites me most is that we’ve only been together for one week so we are just gaining our footing as a team. I believe we are going to keep getting stronger. Additionally, we squandered some scoring opportunities including a penalty kick, so the score could have been very different, but then again, so did Hershey. All in all, it was a great game and I am glad to have come away with the ‘W’.”

Torch FC has one win and one loss so far this season. The next game will be against West Chester United Soccer Club, a matchup that should provide great soccer to watch from both sides.