A strong push to the finish Thursday in Riverside gave the Sigourney-Keota soccer team a season sweep of the Highland Huskies. The road team got their second victory in the series in just under 10 days by an 8-3 count. The Savages built a 2-0 lead by halftime. The Huskies battled back to tie the game at two, 10 minutes into the second half. An SK goal put them back in front, only to be answered by a Highland PK that left the match level after 55 minutes. In the final 25 minutes of regulation, the Savages took over, scoring five unanswered goals and clamping down on the Huskies offensive chances. Following the match, SK senior stars Gavin Khali, Jackson Vittetoe and Wells Clark spoke with KCII Sports about the win.

Clark said, “We’re just out there to have fun. We were out there linking passes and then it just goes in. My favorite assist was when I kicked a perfect through-ball right to Gavin (Khali), the one that set up his favorite goal he was talking about. He took ahold of that and sailed it right into the goal!”

Khali continued, “The program has started slowly, every year, working our way up and a win like this feels great because our coaches have helped us work hard. It’s great to see us building. (My favorite goal) was probably my one-on-one with the goalie. I had an assist from Wells Clark. Him and I just made eye contact and he’s wanting it, I’m wanting it and I draw him in and put it in the left corner!”

Vittetoe added, “It felt surreal. Everyone on the team was seeing everything on the field. My favorite assist was off of a throw-in. I got the header, flicked it back and Wells (Clark), put it right in the goal. It’s good to see us get confidence, beating a team like that by five goals. Just knowing that we are capable of doing that any time we come out on the field!”

Khali finished with four goals in total, his first career hat trick. Clark scored twice and added a pair of assists, Caden Meyer had two goals with an assist. Vittetoe also had two helpers. Ty Goldman recorded the win in goal with five saves. The Savages won shots on goal 16-8 and had five corner kicks. Jose Ramirez led the Huskies attack with a pair of goals of his own. Hunter Seibel scored once for Highland. The win moves SK to 2-2 while Highland falls to 0-6.