Mount de Sales boys soccer topples Stratford in chilly 2-1 win

The celebration was large, the smiles huge.

One bench was bouncing around and yelling with joy, the other figuratively scowling with the ball 75 yards away from changing the moods.

Finally, the clock ran out and Mount de Sales had something to treasure: a win over Stratford.

The Cavaliers scored first and didn’t flinch after the Eagles tied  it shortly after, playing solid defense with the lead for 28 minutes en route to a 2-1 win over visiting Stratford on what was a frigid Tuesday night.

The grin of Mount de Sales head coach Robert Ochieng stretched his face.

“It’s been awhile,” he said.

It was particularly special for Oschieng, a Mount de Sales grad who went on to an all-conference career at Shorter and eventually returned home to take over his alma mater in 2019.

And, of course, beating his old high school coach, Stratford head man Iain Jones, added to the sweetness.

“It’s always good to get one over on the teacher,” Oschieng said. “I’m so proud of the boys. They did everything they needed to do tonight, all the game plan.”

Mount de Sales improved to 5-0 while Stratford fell to 6-2, the Cavs joining powerful Heritage as having vanquished the Eagles.

Jones wasn’t happy, but he wasn’t exactly stunned, either.

“People will act like, ‘Oh, well, where did they come from?’” he said of Mount de Sales, where he coached before taking over at Stratford. “They didn’t lose anybody from last year, and they gained a player. … Teams are not showing them enough respect.”

A win like Tuesday night’s can certainly change that quickly.

The Eagles won 3-1 and 5-1 last year, 3-0 and 2-0 two years ago, and 2-1 late in the 2023 season.

Mount de Sales’ last win over Stratford came early in the 2023 season, 3-2 in double overtime.

This one certainly had the potential for extra soccer, with a pair of teams full of familiarity, and overall even in talent.

But Mount de Sales had the edge in experience, which paid off down the stretch.

Mount de Sales struck first, less than five minutes in. Action had been more in the middle third of the pitch, but got frenetic in front of the Stratford goal.

A shot from Lewis Klein found its way through the bodies and feet for a 1-0 Cavs lead at 35:11.

Stratford didn’t take long to answer in similar fashion, as Sanford Horne squeezed one in — also through bodies and feet — the right side of the net on the ground with only inches to spare.

From then on, the keepers weren’t too busy, with few legitimate shots on goal and saves. But both teams’ keepers came up with some clutch plays and decisions.

Mount de Sales was amid a nice run of possessions in the second half when Riccardo Farina emerged in the middle and launched a high but perfect shot that just escaped the fingertips of Stratford keeper Jude Robertson for a goal from about 30 yards.

“Relax,” Jones yelled to his team. “We have 28 minutes.”

But the Eagles, on a night of physical play and a cold yet slippery field, couldn’t get over the hump, while the Cavs maintained their composure.

“In a game like this, a rivalry, it comes down to the mistakes, whoever makes the least amount of mistakes,” Ochieng said. “I’m very proud of them. (Stratford) has won our regional several years in a row. They’re a quality team.

“You’ve got to give credit where credit’s due, but I think the better team won tonight.”

Jones is in something of a rebuilding mode, having lost 17 starters and regulars the last two years. But he’s patient.

“You’ve got guys who are having to step up and play 60, 70, 80 minutes,” he said. “They’ve never done that before. At least not at Stratford. Those are big shoes to fill.

“But these guys are going to battle. They just have to find a way to work through it. These are growing pains.”

And the Cavs have talent. Jones cited Alex Roseborro, Riccardo Farina and Landon Frawley as standouts, among others. Roseboro and Frawley were freshmen on the team that last topped Stratford.

“They pretty much dictated the play of lot of the game when they needed to, and that’s why they were in that position to win the game,” Jones said. “Hats off to them.”