The first of many-to-come competitive soccer matches between Pillow Academy and Delta Streets Academy took place Wednesday on a muddy Mississippi Valley State University soccer field. The turbulent frigid air forced many spectators under blankets while the Mustangs caught fire and defeated the Lions 5-0.
Pillow’s Wells Wilson got the scoring started for the Mustangs. His goal and Lawson Harvey’s goal, assisted by Ruben Martinez, gave Pillow a 2-0 lead heading into the half. In the second half, the Mustangs began to pressure the Lions with overwhelming aggression, leading to three more goals before the end of regulation time.
Lawson Harvey scored the third goal for Pillow, and Serafin Simon III scored the last two, one being assisted by Harvey.
Wednesday’s game marks the first matchup between the two schools in boys’ soccer, who are now Division II West opponents. Many of the players and staff members have spent time playing for or coaching the Delta Red Bulls, and know each other well. Winning a game that is steeped in camaraderie on both sides of the ball left Pillow coach Serafin Simon with a “bittersweet moment.”
“I’m happy for my boys, they’ve worked real hard. But also, I’m kind of sad on the inside because half of those boys (Delta Steets) play on my Red Bulls team,” Simon said, who is also the founder and administrator of the Delta Red Bulls. “I was nervous the entire day about it, but it’s part of the game.”
Delta Steets coach Connor Altman acknowledged the level of friendship players on both teams have for each other, but was not happy losing to the team in green and yellow.
“The guys are friends. They all live on the same street pretty much, and that’s great and all, but if we can’t win soccer games it doesn’t matter,” said Altman, whose team is the reigning Division III state champions. “Today was an example of that.”
The win moves Pillow to 13-4 and 3-1 in division games, while DSA falls to 13-5 and 2-2 in the division. The Mustangs, who played at Heritage Academy Thursday, are at Bayou Academy Monday.
DSA plays at Washington School Friday and at Brookhaven Academy Monday.
The two teams will also meet again at Pillow next Thursday.
-Contact Jared Conerly at 662-581-7237 or jconerly@gwcommonwealth.com.
