St. Joseph is deep in the midst of a dream season.
But even the best of times are marked by occasional frustration.
For 30 minutes in the Chargers’ conference showdown with St. Ignatius, St. Joseph was unable to jump start its offense. Runs were incomplete, balls just missed the target and the Wolfpack played a strong counter attack.
Then senior forward Anthony Gulli finished a strong juke move and went against his body with a quick turn one touch from 19 yards out that ignited the undefeated Chargers (11-0-1, 5-0 Catholic North).
Gulli scored two goals and senior midfielder Victor Moreno added a goal and an assist as the resurgent Chargers blasted the Wolfpack 3-0 by scoring all of its goals during an 18-minute blitz Thursday in Westchester.
“We were coming off a good but tough and physical win against Fenwick on Tuesday, and we came out a little flat,” Gulli said. “Once we started putting our passes together we got a good rhythm going, and after that the goals just started coming.”
Moreno created the attack late in the first half. In the 30th minute, Moreno controlled the ball on the left edge and crossed to the streaking Gulli, who was positioned in the middle of the field.
“It was a good ball to cross, and I took a touch in behind the defense and Victor kept the ball low,” Gulli said.
Gulli took a stutter step to create some space and then blasted a quick, low-lined one touch that curled inside the near post for the opening goal.
“We actually started realizing that we had open gaps, and I told Anthony to drop back to the middle to help us penetrate the defense,” Moreno said.
St. Joseph took command in the 35th minute as Moreno elevated and smashed in a header from a beautiful cross from sophomore Dylan Robledo.
“I scored just like that in a game against IMSA earlier this season, and I knew that Dylan always sends the ball to the same spot, so that’s where I went,” Moreno said. “The defender in front of me stepped up and I saw a little opening and I just hit it.”
The Wolfpack (6-5-4, 3-2) generated its own decent scoring opportunities in the opening 30 minutes. Junior forward Ethan McManus played a strong ball from 15 yards out. Junior midfielder Ian Waller nearly connected on a header inside the box in an open net.
“We have to be able to hit teams early and take advantage,” St. Ignatius coach Ryan Kearns said.
“The first section of the game, we had a good hold of the midfield,” senior St. Ignatius forward Taylor Reifert said.
“Then we slowed down and they got that 1-2 punch and that sucked it out of us.”
Gulli ended the flourish by scoring from distance, generating great velocity from 23 yards from the left edge in the 48th minute.
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