Servite Bounces Mater Dei

If Servite had not yet convinced anyone it belonged among the county’s top 10 boys’ soccer teams before, it has now.

Two second-half goals by Matt Terry helped Servite defeat ninth-ranked Mater Dei, 2-0, in a nonleague game at Mater Dei. Today, the Friars made their first appearance in this season’s top 10, at No. 7.

“It’s not our goal to be ranked in the top 10, but it’s nice to be recognized,” Servite Coach Scott Cutshall said.

Servite (12-0) has gained recognition with a balanced attack and a stingy defense that has shut out seven opponents and allowed only six goals. The Friars also have won tournaments at Brea Olinda and Burbank Burroughs.

“I think we’ve come a long way, but we still have a ways to go before we can compete with anyone,” Cutshall said.

Mater Dei (4-2-2), which was ranked third in the preseason poll, had only one good scoring opportunity during the game. That came early in the second half, when the game was still scoreless, on a loose ball in front of Servite goalkeeper Scott Lambert after a Mater Dei throw-in.

Nick Marin was in good position to shoot it past the keeper, but Lambert got a finger on the ball and tipped it wide.

About five minutes later, Servite took a 1-0 lead after Mater Dei had trouble clearing the ball from its end.

Javier Vallejo collected the ball just outside the penalty box and then found striker Matt Terry in traffic at the 18-yard line. Terry struck the ball with his left foot and bounced it off the inside left post.

A short time later Terry made it 2-0 with a little help from the Mater Dei defense.

Terry was about 30 yards from the goal with three defenders between him and the net. He went for the lower right corner this time, but the ball glanced off a Mater Dei player and into the lower left corner, catching goalkeeper Eric Butler leaning the other way.