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Weess scored the game-winning goal off a Deni Jerkic pass with 2 minutes, 48 seconds remaining to break a tie and help the Winona Senior High School boys soccer team defeat Austin 3-2 and remain undefeated in a Big Nine Conference matchup at Paul Giel Field.
Thursday’s match was a battle between two unbeaten teams and it was played just like it.
“That was two teams just really going at it,” WSHS coach Pete Weess said. “It was good physical play with both teams playing hard. To come out on top of that is just a tremendous joy for our guys.
“We came into this game knowing that they would be really tough and to come away with a win after a game like that is exactly what you play for.”
At halftime, the match was tied 1-1, but just 10:20 into the second half, the excitement was only getting started.
Jerkic delivered a beautiful pass right in front of the goal that Alex Miene headed into the net to give the Winhawks a 2-1 lead.
Twelve minutes later, Henry Darling of Austin (4-1-1) scored one of the most amazing goals one will ever see.
Darling picked up a loose ball and took it down the right sideline. From about 35 yards away, Darling fired the ball at the goal. The ball got past the reach of Winhawks goalie Nick Ryan, deflected off the crossbar and into the net.
“You look at it and you’re not sure if anything is going to happen off a shot like that,” Packers coach Jens Levisen said. “To see that go in, we were ecstatic, pumped.”
After Austin scored that goal, WSHS didn’t lose any momentum. The Winhawks had five shots that nearly gave them the lead back. Then with less than three minutes remaining, Cameron Weess found the net.
“I knew we had to come back, I knew we could do it,” Cameron Weess said. “We’re 5-0 now, that’s all I can say.
“I just knew the ball was coming across, I just took my time, became composed and put it in the corner.”
Matt Bagshaw scored the first goal for the Winhawks and Jerkic assisted on all three goals.
For Austin, Jacob Brehmer scored a goal and goalie Ryan Rasell had six saves.
