GAME SUMMARY:
Hayward Wolfpack FC kicked off the 2022 season with a gritty 5-3 win over unfamiliar opposition, Rock City FC. The game began with some back and forth action, while both teams attempted to feel each other out. The Pack looked strong, missing a few good chances until returner Siji Gonzalez found the back of the net after a slick through ball from Finigan Huffington. The Pack were caught off-guard on a failed substitution, leading to a banger goal from the home side in the 26th minute. The Wolfpack answered back 10 minutes later when Mally Lumsden smashed in his first career goal for the Pack, on a nice feed from Huffington. Rock City FC were a scrappy bunch though, and found a way to equalize on a cross that found the head, and then the foot, of their striker on the 6 yard box.
The second half again saw the play and opportunities mostly dictated by the Hayward squad. Rock City found a nice offensive stride for 5 minutes of time forcing a good save from Wolfpack keeper Dru Senich in this stretch, and soon after finding their only lead of the evening on a breakaway goal. The Wolfpack responded 6 minutes later and never looked back. Huffington found the back of the net on a great ball in from fellow Scholastica teammate Ken Pryde. Pryde himself then put in a corner kick taken by Gonzalez to take the lead back in the 78th minute. Huffington scored a brace in the 82nd minute when he carried a Lumsden ball through a few defenders and into the back of the net. Dru Senich finished the game with 3 saves, while the Wolfpack outshot Rock City 14-6.
"It was a great first match for our boys, we have a good amount of new faces and this was the perfect game to get them playing together and used to each other. Rock City were a magnificent host, really friendly guys and if you haven't seen their field, you should try to make it out to CSB, it's gorgeous. It was a good, clean game and we got what we needed out of it to prepare for a tough WPASL season. It was good to see some of the newcomers find the score sheet, and Fin had himself a day with 2 goals and 2 assists. A few things to tweak but we feel good heading into a tough match against Granite City next week" - Interim Coach Kaden Bergman
BOX SCORE:
4-16/CSB Sports Complex/Friendly
Hayward Wolfpack FC......................................2 3 -5
Rock City FC......................................................2 1 -3
First Half - HWFC - Siji Gonzalez (Fin Huffington) 18'; RCFC - Unknown 26'; HWFC - Mally Lumsden (Huffington) 36'; RCFC - Unknown 43'
Second Half - RCFC - Unknown 61'; HWFC - Huffington (Ken Pryde) 67'; HWFC - Pryde (Gonzalez) 78'; HWFC - Huffington (Lumsden) 82'
Saves: HWFC - Dru Senich (3 saves); RCFC - Unknown (9 saves)
LOOKING AHEAD:
The Wolfpack have one game lined up next week, a Friendly against UPSL-side Granite City FC. The match will be at Park Center High School in Brooklyn Park, MN on Saturday, April 23rd, with the kickoff scheduled for 4:30 PM.