By Fred Kroner
Titus Payne had a hat trick and Mahomet-Seymour soccer teammate Anthony Ramirez registered two goals and two assists on Tuesday (Oct. 5) as the Bulldogs dispatched Mattoon 7-1 in an Apollo Conference match at Middletown Field.
The performance was a noteworthy one against a top opponent, M-S coach Jeremy Davis said.
“The game was one of the best the Bulldogs have played as they look to hit their stride in these final weeks before the postseason,” Davis said.
“Titus Payne had a clinical night, bodying defenders, creating space, and finishing. Anthony Ramirez’s and Sam Henrichs’ speed gave the Mattoon team issues defending all night.”
Henrichs and Clayton Gibson each netted one goal.
M-S built a 3-0 halftime advantage.
What impressed Davis the most was that the quality of play wasn’t limited to one section of the field.
“Each unit, the defense, mids, and strikers had one of the best performances of the season,” Davis said. “Isaac Warren, Kia Jones, Clayton Gibson and Nick Tjahjadi were effective moving the ball forward in possession throughout the night while overall controlling the flow of play on the field.
“The backline of Logan Alt, Koby Eisenmenger and Braeden Heinold stifled the Green Wave attack while keeper Keagon Ashby helped organize the group.”
Gibson, Jones, Carson Reed, Tjahjadi and Warren all ended with one assist.
M-S is 12-6-1 overall and 7-1 in Apollo action. Mattoon has an overall record of 11-4-2. The Bulldogs return to action on Thursday (Oct.7) at Mount Zion.
