By Michael Lindsay
The Cumberland County Jet soccer team opened District 7-2A play Thursday night with a mercy-rule victory over Watertown, 10-1.
“We played well,” said Cumberland County head coach Cub Whitson. “All the tournaments we go to are to build for our district games and I think it’s paid off. I was proud of our performance.”
Gabriel Alva, Jamie Perez and Nikki Azzani scored 3 goals each along with one by freshman Graham Davidson.
“Our chemistry and the boys playing off each other is big,” said Whitson. “It’s not just one guy taking on multiple players and it makes them very difficult to defend.”
Perez’s three goals come after moving from the keeper position to the field while freshman Ian Gargac started in the net.
“Jamie has always been a phenomenal soccer player in the goal and on the field, so it’s great to have a keeper like Ian that can come on and give Jamie that opportunity,” said Whitson. “Definitely an option we want to keep exploring.”
Cumberland County opened the game with seven first-half goals. Perez scored the first less than 5 minutes into the contest followed by three from Azzani in a three-minute stretch to give the Jets a 4-0 lead with 27:25 remaining in the first half.
Alva scored two goals in the final 17:30 of the first half along with one by Perez to give the Jets a 7-0 lead at the break.
Watertown scored their lone goal to open the second half before Alva scored two goals to give the Jets a 9-1 lead. Perez scored the 10th and final goal with 18:11 remaining to give the Jets a 10-1 victory via mercy rule.
Cumberland County improves to 6-2-2 overall and will host Loudon Tuesday at 6 p.m.
