By Robert Carter

The North Jefferson News



Fultondale’s boys soccer team took another step in its infancy Monday, when the team recorded a 3-0 win over Shades Mountain Christian in its first home match ever.

Uriel Cruz scored two goals for the Wildcats, and Gustavo Ezquerra added the third in the shutout, which was also the first sectional game in the team’s brief history.

Ezquerra opened the scoring in the eighth minute, putting the ball through traffic in the penalty area to dribble past Eagles keeper Dan Courter.

Cruz got his first tally of the match when he was taken down in the penalty area to the left of Courter. The Shades Mountain keeper went to his left on the penalty kick, but Cruz went right and knocked the ball into the side netting in the 37th minute.

Cruz’s other goal came off a rebound from a blocked shot. He recovered the ball about seven meters away from the open goal, and Courter could not recover quickly enough to stop the shot.

Courter was under constant pressure all day, as Cruz, Ezquerra and forward Sal Varela were able to work through the Eagles’ back line frequently. Courter finished with 12 saves.

On the other end, Fultondale’s defensive threesome was nearly impossible to penetrate, as the line continually ran down leading passes to the Eagles’ strikers.

Similarly, the Wildcats controlled the midfield, more often than not coming up with the ball off a goal kick or a clearance pass by Shades Mountain (2-6-0). Fultondale’s fancy footwork, with several back-heel passes and chip passes, gave the Eagles coaching staff fits.

“Now they’re starting to play together,” said coach Ernesto Valladares Sr. “The kids are starting to respond now.”

The victory is the third in this remarkable inaugural season for the Wildcats, against one loss and one tie.

Fultondale faces its next Class 1A-4A Section 4 on Friday afternoon, when the team travels to Leeds.