The Newton Eagles battled through two hard-fought matches Thursday at the Charleston Red & Gold Tournament, dropping a 3-1 decision to the Mattoon Green Wave before bouncing back with a narrow 2-1 victory over the Effingham Hearts.
Newton controlled much of the play against Mattoon, enjoying more possession and creating several scoring opportunities. Despite the Eagles’ pressure, Mattoon was able to take advantage of its chances and build a lead.
Henry Will gave Newton a spark in the second half, finding the back of the net on a long-range effort to cut the deficit to 2-1. The Eagles continued to battle for an equalizer, but Mattoon’s striker eventually broke away on a solo run and scored to seal the 3-1 victory.
The Eagles responded in their second match of the day with a determined performance against Effingham.
Newton showed great fortitude throughout the contest, fighting through a tight match to come away with a 2-1 victory. Evan Holder opened the scoring for the Eagles and was later selected as the match MVP for his outstanding performance.
Holden Barthelemy also found the back of the net, providing Newton with the goal that helped secure the hard-earned victory.
The Eagles’ ability to regroup after the loss to Mattoon and battle their way to a win over Effingham demonstrated the team’s resilience and determination as the season continues.
