McCutcheon finds scoring touch in the IHSAA sectional first round over Lafayette Jeff.
LOGANSPORT — McCutcheon junior midfielder Nery Pacheco made sure his team approached the game as the aggressor from start to finish.
Pacheco, the star goal scorer for McCutcheon, knew what his team had but also how dangerous Lafayette Jeff could be if the Mavericks didn't jump ahead early.
He was right.
Pacheco added a finishing goal in the 74th minute while Ricky Ruiz netted a goal with an assist and McCutcheon withstood a late rally by Lafayette Jeff to knock off its rival in the IHSAA sectional first round 7-4.
"We just came in with the motivation and we wanted it more," Pacheco said. "We came more hungry."
McCutcheon (12-3-2) didn't let off the pressure after playing Lafayette Jeff to a 3-3 tie on Sept. 18.
Five different players scored including midfielder Sami Tovar in the 16th minute, Ruiz's first goal in the 20th and a finishing touch by senior Kyle Scheumann for McCutcheon which led 3-0 at halftime.
"We knew in practice coming into this game that we had to work hard for all 80 minutes," Ruiz said.
Lafayette Jeff (8-7) refused to go down quietly after Scheumann scored his second goal in the 45th minute.
Senior forward Ian Cardona scored a penalty kick after fellow classman Azlan Rodriguez was fouled in the box and Rodriguez added a goal in the 54th minute off a free kick touch from Christopher Sanchez Garcia to make the score 4-2.
"I told my boys before the second half to always have hope," Cardona said. "I have a memory of me giving up in a game when I was a kid and it was the worst feeling. Since then, I've always made sure to give it my everything."
McCutcheon went back on the offensive with senior Gerhard Agyeman having a goal of the year candidate in the 67th minute. Agyeman took a pass and crossed a shot flush with his right leg while sliding and pocketed to the right side of the net.
Sophomore Hector Magallanes-Ortiz added a goal in the 73rd minute before the final layer was added by Pacheco.
A total of eight goals were scored in the second half. McCutcheon turns its attention to the IHSAA sectional semifinals and will play reigning 3A state champion Harrison.
Harrison dismissed Kokomo 10-2 in the first round.
McCutcheon turns its attention to the IHSAA sectional semifinals and will play reigning 3A state champion Harrison. Harrison has won each of the last four playoff matchups between the two schools with each match decided by a single goal.
McCutcheon and Harrison are set to kickoff at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at [email protected], on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: McCutcheon goal splurge enough to beat Lafayette Jeff
Category: General Sports
