Comet soccer holds ‘Senior Night’

By John Burbridge
sports@charlescitypress.com
CHARLES CITY — Amid only their second season of high school soccer, at times the inexperience of the Charles City Comets shows up during matches.

Take Monday’s match against Garner-Hayfield/Ventura.

One of the Cardinal players kicked Comet forward Dajon Richards hard in the shin while trying to “tackle” the ball away from him. Richards was legitimately hurt and went down to the turf.

But instead of staying prone and writhing in pain extensively like he stepped on a landmine — something most professional players would do — Richards soon got back on his feet.

What’s up with that?

Shortly after, Richards scored the Comets’ lone goal of the match midway through the second half. The Cardinals eventually won, 6-1.

Unlike during its debut season, Charles City will not go winless this season. During an invitational at Postville last month, the Comets rolled off back-to-back wins for their two victories thus far this season before being stopped in the tournament’s final.

Though wins for the fledgling program still remain hard to come by, Comet matches tend to provide plenty of open-field action.

One Charles City player who’s particularly active match in and match out is senior keeper Ben Schwickerath. As he did against GHV, Schwickerath often puts his body on the line while confronting breakaway attackers — sometimes even venturing more than 25 yards from the goal.

Schwickerath was one of several pending Charles City 2019 graduates honored during the team’s “Senior Night” before the varsity match against the Cardinals. Others included Anastasia Baldus, Arturo Ceja, Collin Hillis, Isaak Jensen, Mariah McKenzie and Toby McGovern.

The Comets have two regular-season away matches remaining on their schedule — Thursday at Hampton-Dumont and Saturday at Mason City.

Districts for Class 1A boys soccer start on Monday (May 20).