Pirates sail past Comets, 8-1, in CC’s first home soccer match

By John Burbridge sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — Pirates, especially those associated with the Barbary Coast or Caribbean, are — or were — deft at tacking into the wind.

During the first half against Charles City, which was hosting its first-ever home soccer match Friday at the school’s football/track field, the Hudson Pirates were playing headlong into a sail-ripping wind. And the upstart Comets were taking advantage while keeping the ball on the offensive side of the field.

Eventually Charles City forward Nathan Baltes found the net 8 minutes and 36 seconds into the game to give the Comets their first lead of the season as well as in program history against a team that has been recently ranked in the Top 10 in Class 2A.

Pirate senior captain Joe Ruzicka was able breakaway to score nearly 8 minutes later to tie the match, then Hudson sophomore Jake Hoppes was able to control a corner kick with his body before scoring with 2:22 left in the half to put Hudson up, 2-1.

In the second half with the wind now at their back, the Pirates appeared poised to put what was a close match away.

But after several shot attempts off the crossbar, and a series of gallant saves from Comet keeper Ben Schwickerath, Charles City kept the score where it was at intermission more than 16 minutes in the second half.

But then Hudson senior Wes Geisler was awarded a penalty kick, which he converted, and then a barrage of Pirate cannon fire began to find its mark.

Hudson would end up winning 8-1 to improve their record to 6-1 for the season.

Hudson senior Tristin Gilles recorded a rapid-fire hat-trick for the Pirates, and assisted another goal by Geisler while using his head.

The Comets (0-4) will host Clear Lake on Tuesday.