Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

Even Batman would have been proud of how the St. Joseph Flyers solved this riddle.

The Flyers solved Portsmouth Clay’s soccer riddle and posted a 3-0 win on Tuesday.

“Clay fielded an unusual formation that took some time to solve,” said Flyers’ coach Tim Hopkins. “Once we adjusted, our flow of possession improve and we spent more time in the attacking third of the pitch.”

Cole Willis provided a “Wham! Bam! Slam1” in Batman fashion as he recorded the Flyers’ first-ever “triple-single” with a goal, an assist and a goalkeeper save in the same game.

Willis scored on a header from 12 yards at the 36:45 mark to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead.

Joseph Payton then scored from 8 yards three minutes later and it was 2-0 at the half. Payton got his second goal of the game with 30:00 in the second half off an assist by Willis and it was 3-0.

Eli Lewis also had an assist and Justin Mahlmeister posted three goalkeeper saves.

The Flyers host Lincoln County, W.Va., at noon on Saturday and Chesapeake at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

St. Joseph 2 1 = 3

Portsmouth Clay 0 0 = 0

First Half

SJ — Cole Willis header 12 yards 36:45

SJ — Joseph Payton 8 yards (assist by Eli Lewis) 39:40

Second Half

SJ — Joseph Payton 6 yards (assist by Cole Willis) 30:00

Statistics

Shots on Goal: St. Joseph 16, Clay 4

Goalkeeper Saves: St. Joseph 4 (Justin Mahlmeister 3, Cole Willis 1); Clay 12 (Michael Gleason)

Corner Kicks: St. Joseph 8, Clay 1

Direct Kicks: St. Joseph 9, Clay 5

Indirect Kicks: St. Joseph 4, Clay 5