Soccer: Maury boys learning from early lumps – Virginian-Pilot

Spring Sports Buzz: Soccer news, High Fives and Must-See Match-Ups.

Maury boys soccer coach Dana Shaffer figured it’d be a rebuilding year.

With seven sophomores, the Commodores looked young in a 7-1 loss to top-ranked First Colonial to open the season.

But Maury shook off the loss quickly, grabbing a 1-0 lead over No. 5 Ocean Lakes before falling 2-1.

“We’re growing,” Shaffer said. “We’re moving in the right direction.”

Maury now has won four straight, including 5-1 over Churchland and 2-1 over Granby. Ali Jammi scored the go-ahead goal against Granby on Monday, continuing the junior’s strong start to the season.

Jammi has nine goals in six games, tying him for third in South Hampton Roads.

He started as a freshman at center midfield, where he roamed his sophomore season as well.

But this season, Jammi acts as Maury’s primary offensive target in a 4-5-1 formation because “he doesn’t like to defend so we keep him as far away as possible from our goal,” Shaffer said, laughing.

Sophomore Tucker Sanford is the playmaker in the middle, proving his worth with both assists in that win over Granby.

Maury’s midfield is its strength. With six solid players, “the trick is trying to get them all in the game at the same time,” Shaffer said.

However, an additional midfielder moved to center back after the First Colonial loss. Senior Zach Harris, a four-year starter, has provided leadership to a sophomore-laden defensive line.

Harris took the move in stride.

“There wasn’t a whole lot of conversation,” Shaffer said. “I said, ‘Zach you’re gonna play center back.’ And he said, ‘Whatever I can do to help the team.'”

This week in 757 soccer

HIGH FIVES

Boys

Great Bridge’s Bennie Raymond scored two goals, each assisted by AJ Frommelt, as the Wildcats knocked off Grassfield 4-2.

Kellam’s Jared Greene netted both goals in a 2-0 win over Cox.

Girls

Landstown’s Carrie Knapp scored the winning goal on a penalty kick in a 1-0 victory over Kempsville.

Kellam’s Kaylee Kozlowski scored the winning goal on a free kick with three minutes left in regulation of a 1-0 win over Cox.

MUST-SEE MATCH-UP

Boys:  Western Branch at No. 8 Hickory, 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

Girls: King’s Fork at No. 9 Nansemond River, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday (tonight).

This week’s South Hampton Roads Boys Soccer Top 10 and Girls Soccer Top 10.

- Ray Nimmo