Soccer Vanguards have won 3 straight
A lot has changed with the alternate soccer season, but the Wisconsin Heights/Barneveld boys soccer team is picking up where it left off back in 2019.
The Vanguards are currently on a three-game winning streak and 3-1-1 overall, which puts them in second place in the Capitol Conference behind Sugar River.
Senior Gavin Childs, currently the fourth-leading goal scorer in the state, has scored 10 of Heights/Barneveld’s 18 goals.
On April 15, the Vanguards took an early lead and defeated Cambridge, 3-2.
Just minutes into the game, sophomore Sam King had a rebound goal to give Heights/Barneveld a 1-0 lead. Late in the first half, Caeben Schomber made a quick kick up to Childs on an indirect set play and Childs scored to give the Vanguards a 2-0 lead at half.
The second half started with a hand ball in the box, allowing Cambridge to score on a penalty kick.
“Cambridge United is a big, physical team,” Vanguards coach Bartlett Holmes said. “They came out strong in the second half, but we didn’t back down when we were getting pushed around.”
Moments later Heights/Barneveld received a penalty kick when King was fouled in the box. The Vanguards converted to make it 3-1.
The Vanguards’ defense held strong against the Cambridge onslaught, but the Bluejays scored with four minutes left in the game to account for the final score.
“It was a battle, but we held on for the W,” Holmes said.
On April 13, Heights/Barneveld blasted visiting Columbus 5-1.
The Vanguards roared to a 3-1 lead in the first half.
“We took control early and never relinquished our lead,” Holmes said.
With assists from sophomore Cayden Kennedy, Childs notched his second hat trick of the season, scoring three of the Vanguards’ five goals. Caeben Schomber and King also found the back of the net for Heights/Barneveld.
“Our early lead allowed bench players to get minutes,” Holmes said.
The last several years, Heights/Barneveld has fielded both a varsity and a JV team. With fewer players, there is only a varsity team for the shortened, alternate season.
The Vanguards tied Jefferson, 2-2, in their season opener. Heights/Barneveld then fell to Sugar River, 6-5, before ripping off three straight wins.
The Vanguards’ winning streak started with a 3-0 victory over Lodi, before they topped Cambridge United and Columbus.
“We’ve been working to put together a full 90 minutes of strong play,” Holmes said. “If you had told me that we would score five goals against Sugar River (in the second game of the season) I would have thought we would walk away with the win. We were up 2 goals and let that game slip away.
“At Lodi, we played hard, taking an early 3-0 lead. Our passing is improving. We’ve had some injuries, on the team, but some of our younger players, Cayden Kennedy and Finch Holmes, are stepping up to fill the gaps. Our defense and keeper Trevor Dimpfl were able to hold off Lodi and allow our bench to have some minutes.”
• On deck: Heights/Barneveld hosted Cambridge on Monday for Parents Night. On Thursday, the Vanguards travel to Belleville to play Sugar River at 6:45 p.m.
