Yigle's Hat Trick Leads Conard Past Northwest Catholic

Kevin Yigle scored three goals and assisted on another as Conard High remained perfect on the season with a 5-1 victory over Northwest Catholic at McKee Stadium on Wednesday.

Yigle’s scoring explosion was a welcome sight for the Chieftains (4-0), as the forward had numerous chances in the first three games of the year, only to come up empty.

"We've been messing with Kevin for some time about trying to kick the ball between the white posts," Conard High head coach Adam Linker said. "He had a breakout game. ... He's a physical specimen - fast, big, strong."

Matheus Souza, Conard’s exquisite All-State forward, scored the other two goals.

Conard defender Nelson Truong also kept Northwest Catholic’s Robert Place in check. Place scored five goals against Bulkeley on Sept. 10.

“He’s drawing three [defenders],” Northwest Catholic head coach Terry Phillip said. “If he’s drawing three, that means two guys are open somewhere.”

Logan Wolf scored the only goal for the Indians (1-3), knocking in a rebound off a free kick by Timothy Dodds in the first half.

The afternoon, however, belonged mostly to Conard.

“We came into the match a little bit wounded,” said Phillip, who had four starters out due to injury.

But the Chieftains’ victory was somewhat overshadowed when Souza received a red card with 2:49 remaining in the match after he appeared to punch a Northwest Catholic player in the stomach.

While the referee had little choice but to send Souza off, thereby suspending him for at least one game, Souza was a marked man all match and was on the receiving end of similar behavior that went unseen by the referees.

“But there is no excuse for [Souza’s actions],” said Adam Linker, adding that he had a reserve ready to substitute in for Souza, but the play did not stop before the referee flashed the red card.