Tribe blanks Blackcats

Staff photo by Mike Buhler Kennett's Andrew Hooper (right) tries to break away from a Fredericktown defender during Tuesday's high school boys' soccer match at Indian Park. [Click to enlarge]

The Kennett Indians have had their ups and downs on the soccer field this season. Tuesday was definitely one of the ups.

The Tribe got stellar defense and a strong game in goal from Carson Wood as it shut out the Fredericktown Blackcats 3-0, Kennett's first shutout of the season.

"Our defense did what we've been trying to do all year," Kennett defenseman Patrick Ratliff said. "We played really well tonight. Everything just pretty much worked out for us because our defense stepped up."

Staff photo by Mike Buhler Kennett's Blake Wilbanks (left) and a Fredericktown defender go after the ball during Tuesday's high school boys' soccer match at Indian Park. [Click to enlarge]

Kennett coach Jack Rollins was quick to give credit to Ratliff and the team's other defensemen -- Sean Callewaert, Will Johnson, Travis Gentry and Hunter Crittenden.

"They played strong (on the) defensive line," said Rollins. "It was our first shutout and that can be largely attributed to -- not just to them -- but to the defense."

Tuesday's win was also key as the Tribe (4-6) has just two games left before districts, including today's game at Poplar Bluff.

Staff photo by Mike Buhler Kennett's Will Johnson (right) scored the Tribe's first goal Tuesday on a penalty kick against Fredericktown at Indian Park. Kennett won 3-0 -- its first shutout of the season -- to improve to 4-6 on the year. [Click to enlarge]

"It's huge," Ratliff said. "We've got momentum. We play Poplar Bluff (Wednesday) and they beat us pretty bad the first time, so we're looking for a little bit of revenge on that one."

The Indians did not wait long to get on the board, as Johnson pushed in a penalty kick in the 13th minute to give his team all the scoring it would need.

The score remained 1-0 until the game's 52nd minute, when Pedro Moreno got loose on a breakaway to find the back of the net and give Kennett some breathing room.

"When you score -- and particularly when you hold the other team without scoring -- it always boosts your confidence," Rollins said. "It always makes you feel like you're more capable of doing it, so then one goal more or less leads to another."

Eight minutes later, Blake Wilbanks found the net to cap the evening's scoring.

"We worked the ball really well tonight," said Ratliff. "We just played really well with our options -- what we've wanted to do all year."

Tuesday's win was Kennett's third of the year against the Blackcats.

"Fredericktown's a good team," Rollins said. "They play hard. ... We played hard and we seemed to have a bit more confidence when we play Fredericktown than we do other teams."

Notes: The game started late after the Blackcats were late arriving to the park. The game started approximately 15-20 minutes late. ... The Tribe has one final home game, one week from Thursday against Saxony Lutheran. ... District play begins October 31 at John F. Kennedy Catholic High School in Manchester.