Spartans shut out Raiders, 2-0
TRI-CITY AREA — Imlay City (no, 15, Division 3) turned back Almont, 2-0, in a boys’ soccer district championship battle last Wednesday.
Richmond High School is where the match was contested.
The Imlay City boys’ soccer team poses for a photo after registering a top district finish against Almont last week.
The outcome marked the fourth straight year Imlay City has emerged as district champions.
With the decision, Imlay City improves to 16-4-1 this season. Almont watches a 15-2-3 campaign reach an endpoint.
“The boys played their hearts out,” Imlay City Coach Luis Hernandez commented. “They knew it was not going to be an easy game but they now have their sights set on regionals and beyond,” he noted.
“From now on they can’t afford to make any mistakes if our season is to continue. Playing our regional at Atwood Stadium in Flint (Tuesday, October 24 versus Williamston in a semifinal set for 4 p.m.) is going to be a great event.”
On the opposite sideline, Almont Coach Martin Camaj took solace knowing his ballclub had just wrapped up one of their most successful seasons in school history.
“We knew this would be a tough game and the boys gave 100 percent,” Camaj observed. “That is all you can ask,” he noted.
Nery Vega (via a free kick) and Xavier Galeana (set up by Vega) supplied Imlay City’s goals that day, both in the second half.
Quintin Ramirez went the distance in net for Imlay City, making six saves.
Bain Abitheira drew the goalkeeping assignment for Almont. He managed 10 saves.
Kevin Kissane has been covering high school sports for the Tri-City Times since 1985. When not standing on a field or court with his camera and notepad, he enjoys golf, travel and family. Kevin is a 1980 graduate of Capac High School, and is also a grad of St. Clair Community College and earned a degree in journalism from Central Michigan University.
