Photos by Damien Hartke
Newton Eagles Finish Runner-Up
The Newton Eagles wrapped up the Red and Gold Tournament with a second-place finish, finishing just behind the Mattoon Green Wave while placing ahead of the Teutopolis Wooden Shoes, St. Thomas More Sabres and Effingham Flaming Hearts.
Newton 1, St. Thomas More 1
In their first fixture of the day against the St. Thomas More Sabres, the Eagles struck first through a beautifully executed combination.
Cylas Dickerson delivered a brilliant through ball over the Sabres’ back four, finding Evan Holder, who calmly finished with his left foot to give Newton the lead. Holder, who was named Man of the Match in Thursday’s action, continued his strong tournament with another important contribution.
Newton appeared poised to claim the victory, but the Sabres found an equalizer in the dying moments of the match. St. Thomas More’s goalkeeper came forward for a set piece and scored to force a 1-1 draw.
Newton 1, Teutopolis 0
The Eagles faced the Teutopolis Wooden Shoes in their second fixture, with the elements and fatigue becoming significant factors as the tournament continued.
Despite the difficult conditions, Newton relied on possession, resilience and continued pressure to control the match. The Eagles had been knocking on the door from the opening whistle, and their persistence finally paid off.
Henry Will, who was named Newton’s Man of the Match, broke through in the first half with a strike from outside the box to put the Eagles ahead 1-0.
Newton’s defense held firm for the remainder of the match, protecting the lead and securing the victory.
The 1-0 win over Teutopolis capped the Eagles’ tournament run and secured second place overall.
Newton’s performance throughout the Red and Gold Tournament showcased the team’s resilience, composure and ability to battle through challenging conditions. With a draw and a victory on Saturday, the Eagles finished as the tournament’s runner-up behind Mattoon.
