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Gormont scores six goals to lift Hughesville boys to win against Sullivan County

By Jon Gerardi 6 min read

HUGHESVILLE -- It took Hughesville just 38 seconds to begin Thursday's game at Raymond H. Perritt Stadium with a spark. That's how fast Hughesville found the back of the net and put a goal in. And the Spartans' offense kept clicking from there and never let up.

Hughesville scored six goals -- four in the first half -- en route to a convincing 6-1 win against Sullivan County at a humid Thursday night to earn their second win of the year and hand Sullivan County a loss in the Griffins' season opener.

"That was definitely great to see because we've struggled in the past with getting up to play in the first five minutes," Hughesville coach Cole Lesher said. "So, I think them being able to come out with energy and play with a team, it was great. It set the tone for tonight."

Hughesville peppered Sullivan County's goal throughout the first 40 minutes of the game and controlled early, dominating the time of possession throughout that first half. The Spartans fired 20 first-half shots both inside the 18-yard box and from 30-20 yards out. Hughesville wasn't afraid to shoot.

"I thought that was definitely huge (to keep possession) because I knew Sullivan was a bit more physical team," Lesher said. "Just getting in there for challenges and I figured if we could keep the ball and possess it, the more chances we would have and set ourselves up for success better."

But it was Justin Heminghaus who played fantastic in those first 40 minutes of the game. Sullivan County's senior goalie came up with 15 first-half saves and did everything he could to prevent Hughesville from extending its lead. While the Spartans scored four in the first half, Heminghaus kept it from ballooning further.

"I thought he made a bunch of great saves. They had three go off the post that end up going in, not much you can do against that. But the things he could (get to) Justin was all over it," Sullivan coach Chris Koschak said. "The kids we have, numbers that we have, the entire team put in a shift (tonight). They played really hard. It's kind of funny when you got a minute to go in game and opposing coaches and opposing team is up 6-1 against a team and they're afraid that we're going to score on them. So, the guys gave it their all right until the end. It was a good game even though it was a 6-1 (loss). I think we learned a lot, I think we worked hard and I think we know where we can fix things and improve."

Gormont's first goal came from roughly 15 yards out when he took a throughball and fired it to the far-left post to make it a 1-0 lead 38 seconds into the game.

Gormont scored with 25:41 to play off an assist by Patrick Stine, who assisted his first goal, when he was on the run and shot to his left. The ball hit off Heminghaus' fingertips but went in. Seven minutes later, Gormont added yet another goal.

After Brendan Wolfgang fired a shot that got blocked nicely by Heminghaus, it stayed in the field of play and was tapped in by Gormont for the 3-0 lead. The Spartans' final goal of the first half was another Wolfgang-to-Gormont connection when Gormont fired a shot to the far-left post for the 4-0 lead with 13:29 until halftime.

"He's really been training a lot and practicing a ton with what angles to hit," Lesher said. "He's been using his speed to come on with more technical ability to make things work. He's been a huge part of the team, too. A huge aspect."

Prior to coming onto the field in the second half, Lesher and the coaches told Hughesville's players they couldn't slack and take their foot off the gas. Lesher knew that Sullivan County was a team with talented players and an early Griffins' goal could shift momentum.

"That's what we were talking about saying 'hey, we have to refine some things, had some good plays here, but can't just take the foot off the gas yet,'" Lesher said. "We got to keep working and make sure we're playing the right soccer. Not just working hard, but working smart too."

Less than three minutes into the second half, Gormont put in a goal from outside the 18 when he sent a shot inside the left post to make it a 5-0 lead. And a minute and 48 seconds later, Gormont capped his night with his sixth and final goal off an assist by Kellan Smith.

The Griffins wouldn't be completely denied a goal, however. With 28:25 to play in the game, Sullivan County continued pressing and finally put one in when Dominic Marotti scored to avoid the shutout.

The Spartans ended the game with a 26-4 advantage in shots.

Hughesville had a chance to score with 15:40 to play with a direct kick from 30 yards out, but it went right to Hughesville's keeper. With 5:10 left, the Griffins had another direct kick, this one from 40 out, but it went high.

In the first half, Sullivan County had a quick flurry and nearly was able to score, but Carter Smith displayed solid goalie play to save both shots.

Sullivan County shot from just outside the left-hand corner of the 18, but it was blocked low by Smith. It remained in play, and Sullivan was there for the second-chance attempt, but it was again blocked, preventing what would have been a game-tying goal seven minutes into the first half.

"We fought the entire game. We didn't hang our heads and we didn't argue with each other," Koschak said. "It's a team, and it's a team in progress."

Hughesville 6, Sullivan County 1

H--Carter Gormont (Patrick Stine), 39:22. H--Gormont (Stine), 25:41. H--Gormont (Brendan Wolfgang), 18:38. H--Gormont (Wolfgang), 13:29. H--Gormont (Payton Hartner), 37:48. H--Gormont (Kellan Smith), 36:00. SC--Dominic Marotti, 28:25.

Shots: SC 4, H 26. Corners: SC 1, H 6. Saves: SC 20 (Justin Heminghaus), H 3 (Carter Smith).

Records: Hughesville (2-1), Sullivan County (0-1).

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