With playoff hopes still alive, Annapolis Blues men’s team recorded a much needed 7-1 win over Patuxent FA on Saturday.
Wasting no time, Brady Geho opened the scoring early for the Blues. Receiving the ball, Geho drove into the box and took on the Patuxent defenders. As he just edged into the box, the UMBC forward calmly slotted his finish home, finding the bottom left corner and putting Annapolis up 1-0.
Jack Brown doubled the lead for the Blues shortly after. Rich Monath received the ball on the left wing, just inside the box. Cutting inside, he beat his defender and released a shot on the ground that bounced off the back post and rebounded directly to Brown, whose first time volleyed finish from eight yards out beat Jameson Metz to his right.
Similar to Monath’s earlier opportunity, Geho found himself in the same spot just minutes later, hoping for a different outcome. The towering striker, who was in on goal from the left-wing side of the box opened his hips and released a curling effort from 14 yards out that bounced into the bottom left corner of the net. In securing his brace, Geho put the Blues up 3-0 early on.
Seeing out the 3-0 lead through halftime, Annapolis knew it needed another strong 45 minutes of play to continue the push for playoffs.
Monath made no mistake his second time around, adding a fourth goal for the Blues just after the half. With his pace on full display, he took off down the left wing, leaving the Patuxent defenders in the dust. From 12 yards out, Monath calmly took his chance, beating the onrushing Metz with a perfect finesse shot that nestled into the bottom right corner.
Patuxent were able to pull one back, however, Dominic Toplosky would put the efforts to bed, making it 5-1 for the Blues. A cross from the endline, on the right wing, found Toplosky at the top of the box. Taking one touch to settle, he unleashed a banger into the top left corner.
Matias De Jesus would go on to score a penalty before Mikey Johnson furthered the lead, scoring a first-time finish off the cross, securing all three points for Annapolis.
The Blues will remain on the road as the search for a spot in postseason play continues, taking on in-state rival Christos FC on Wednesday, June 25 at 7 p.m.
