Pretty goals spell ugly end for Harvard

Harvard’s Nathan Baldwin (right) goes after the ball against Antioch’s Taylor Krumpos during the Hornets’ 3-0 loss Tuesday in Harvard. (Travis Haughton – thaughton@nwherald.com)

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HARVARD – There’s not much defending that can be done against a goal from 40 yards out.

Antioch’s boys soccer team Tuesday posted not one but two pretty goals from near midfield against Harvard in a non-conference match. They’re the kind of rare goals at which spectators marvel, and they contributed to a 3-0 win for the Sequoits in a match more competitive than the score indicated.

The Hornets kept the Sequoits from taking many quality shots from close range, but there was little Harvard (0-2) or goalkeeper Evan Grieshop could do to stymie the long balls.

“That first one I just judged it wrong,” Grieshop said. “And on the other one I was over at the near post. That was a great shot; the kid that hit it deserves a lot of credit.”

Antioch junior Billy Mohr scored the first 40-footer, sending a ball that looked like it was heading just over the crossbar but went in just above Grieshop’s outstretched hand. It opened a 1-0 Sequoits lead with 1:40 left in the first half.

Play became more intense early in the second half, and Antioch drew three yellow cards in the first 10 minutes before senior Jordan Frazer hit the second highlight-reel goal. Frazer hit a ball from junior Jacob Jost in the air from about 45 feet to the right of the Hornets’ goal to put the Sequoits (1-0) up, 2-0, with 25:23 left to play.

Zak Semitka scored Antioch’s third goal with 16:20 left in the game.

It was Harvard’s second consecutive loss, but not a poor performance. The Hornets put seven solid shots on frame, connected on their passes and communicated well.

They just couldn’t stop the big shots.

“It comes down to communicating and learning one another’s styles,” Harvard coach David Abel said. “Give Antioch credit; they played well, and to give up two 40-yard goals is nothing to be upset about. We have to capitalize on what we are given, and we didn’t do that tonight.”