FORKS — Forks’ boys soccer team kept it light and loose on the field and on the bench in an 8-0 takedown of Montesano at Spartan Stadium on Tuesday.
The Spartans (5-0) were explosive on offense and stymied the Bulldogs defensively, allowing Montesano just three shots in the game. It was Forks’ second contest in two nights after beating Hoquiam 3-0 Monday.
“We looked fantastic today,” Spartans senior Tony Flores said. “We just came out and played. That’s what we can do. We can score a lot when everybody is together as a team.”
Forks coach Ismael Ramos was thrilled with his team’s play, telling the team it was their best performance of the season in a post-match huddle.
“They have [put up good scores in previous games], but our defense has been a little choppy, and they’ve just been sluggish,” Ramos said. “They haven’t had that intensity that I’ve been waiting for.
“I had a pretty good talk with them before the game, and I think that kind of got them in the zone. They showed up to play; they haven’t played like this yet, for sure.”
Flores was one of three Spartans to bag two goals, getting things rolling in the seventh minute by tapping in a goal on a follow-up after trying a header. He added another rebound goal in the 56th minute.
“He’s my go-to-guy, and if I need him to go to a spot, he’ll play it,” Ramos said of Flores.
Hector Dominguez entered the game as a substitute and made his presence felt as the fullback-sized forward sent a strike sailing just over the bar and fed a good cross into Flores that eventually found Dominguez’s brother, Jesus Garcia Dominguez, for a 26nd-minute score.
“Hector knows where to go with the ball. He gives good passes, and he knows when to take his shots,” Ramos said. “He doesn’t play with the ball too long. He had a nice assist. That assist was the Dominguez brother connection; they did that before against Montesano.”
Arturo Dominguez cleaned up on a ball in the box just before halftime for a 3-0 Spartans lead. He added a breakaway goal late in the 76th minute.
Flores also earned a penalty when he was pushed to the turf in the goalbox just after halftime.
Defender Teo Ayala-Weed converted the kick, his second goal in as many minutes after bending in a deep strike to put Forks up 4-0 in the 44th minute.
“Teo, he stepped up with his long shots and had a really nice goal,” Flores said when asked which teammates stood out after the game. “Everybody, actually. We all played well.”
Sophomore William Perez notched the other Forks goal in the 70th minute.
Ramos praised the Forks defensive back line of Luis Torres, Ayala-Weed and Colton Duncan for their play.
“Luis Torres — this was his best game by far,” Ramos said. “These guys have played against each other all four years; they have that chemistry in the back. I’m lucky to be able to start my coaching career with the team that I have. Not every coach gets this talented of a roster.”
Rafael Terrones picked up the shutout in goal, making a couple of solid saves in the first half to keep Montesano scoreless.
And the Spartans enjoyed cracking jokes and cheering on their teammates with some good-natured humor throughout the game.
In one example, Ayala-Weed made a deep run up the field into the Spartans’ offensive third in the first half, drawing some catcalls from teammates on the bench as the defender left a space of the field unguarded on his run.
An observer would get the sense that the team can be a bit of a handful, in a good way.
“They have fun with it,” Ramos said.
Forks hosts Tenino on Saturday, with a game against fellow unbeaten Elma looming at home Monday.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-406-0674 or mcarman@peninsuladaily news.com.
