WADSWORTH: Freshman David Chirumbole and senior Mattis Lasseur both recorded a hat trick on the field Tuesday night at Art Wright Stadium.
Chirumbole and Lasseur consistently attacked, and with three goals apiece the tandem guided the Wadsworth boys soccer team to an 8-2 victory over visiting Cuyahoga Falls.
Chirumbole scored two goals in the first half and one goal in the second half. Lasseur netted one goal in the first half and then scored two goals in the second half.
The Grizzlies outscored the Black Tigers 4-1 in each half to win the Suburban League National Conference match on a humid evening in Wadsworth.
“We have been scoring quickly for the better part of the season,” Wadsworth coach John Johnson said. “We have been trying to develop the attitude to go to the goal and score.”
Wadsworth, which is 5-0-0 overall and 2-0-0 in league play, took control of Tuesday’s match quickly by scoring twice in the first 11 minutes.
Chirumbole’s first goal in the first half was unassisted, and his second goal came after a pass from sophomore Seth Beldean. Junior Ben Arnold scored a goal off an assist from junior Andrew Robinson, and Lasseur’s first-half goal was unassisted.
Cuyahoga Falls (2-3-1, 0-2-0) scored its goal with 22:23 remaining in the first half after senior Drew Kull found the net after a pass from senior Greg McDevitt.
The Grizzlies extended their lead quickly in the second half with Chirumbole scoring in the opening minute to make it 5-1.
“It feels very good to get a hat trick,” said Chirumbole, who has seven goals in five matches this season. “This is hopefully the first of many that I can score. It feels really good, especially as a freshman to score on the varsity level.”
Junior Matthew Studenic netted one goal and Lasseur found the net twice to make it 8-1 with 11:55 to go. Falls concluded the scoring with a goal by senior Zach Lias on a pass from freshman Jack Hiland.
Lasseur, an exchange student from Germany, is in his first year living in the United States. He was assigned to Wadsworth, and said he is comfortable.
“I was randomly sent here,” Lasseur said. “I love Wadsworth. I love the people, and everybody is so nice. I love my soccer teammates.
“At first, it was hard for me to find friends and other people to talk to. To learn a new feeling where your parents aren’t here is hard a little bit, but I have a nice host family and I have been able to make friends.
“Tonight was a wonderful game, and I really enjoyed playing with the team.”
Wadsworth held an edge in shots on goal (21-5) and corner kicks (9-0), and also received solid play from senior Austin Wolfinger and juniors Connor Mendel and Josiah Sovine.
“We are a young team,” Falls coach Eric Ortopan said. “We have three freshmen out there on the varsity team, and it is just a pace that they are adapting to. That’s kind of why you see those little hiccups out on the field today. They are learning to play at this pace.”
Michael Beaven can be reached at 330-996-3829 or mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com.