ALBIA — Theo Hugen already showed just four days ago how quickly he can find the back of the net.
When Pella Christian returned to finish its game against Albia on Friday night, the Eagle junior kept the Blue Demon defense running like clockwork. Hugen scored three more goals in the 70 minutes since play resumed after an initial weather postponement last Monday, including the tying goal 21 seconds after Albia trailed the Eagles 2-2. That included a goal in the final minute just 12 seconds later. The Blue Demons cut a three-point deficit to one with a thrilling 6-4 victory at Pella Christian Road.
“It was a battle between both teams,” Hugen said. “After the first half, we knew (Albia) were ready for us. I told my teammates we have to fight back. If we can fight back, we will have this game.”
With 40 seconds remaining, Hugen scored his fourth and final goal of the game, ending a back-and-forth battle in which Albia closed the gap by one point in each half. After conceding a goal on Monday with the first shot of the night just over a minute into the game, Albia returned to the field and fought back, eventually tying the game in the 25th minute when Gavin Schaefer converted a shot off Kayson No. I scored a goal. The score was tied at 1-1 with 15 yards left.
“Our players were very competitive. We got off to a much stronger start than we did on Monday,” Albia boys soccer head coach Matt Johnson said. “We have a lot of guys that play basketball. Soccer is different than basketball. It takes time to rebuild and break down defenses. That's what propelled us forward. We moved the ball and got to the basket. I made an effort.”
Pella Christian was able to regain the lead early in the second half when Ethan van Aerendonk hit the post and deflected two shots in the 53rd minute. However, Albia fought back again and in the 61st minute Conor Fisher converted a breakthrough chance on goal to level the game at 2-2.
“This shows there are new gears we can reach,” Johnson said. “There's another step we can take.”
But Hugen had no intention of letting Albia stay for long. From the ensuing kickoff, Hugen dribbled up the sideline and beat the Blue Demon defense up the field before scoring the tying goal past Jackson Strickler to put Pella Christian back on top, 3-2.
“I know I'm faster than most defenders,” Hugen said. “I'm making the most of it. I know how much the team supports me. We do our best to work together, pass and get the ball through.”
Hugen's goal ignited a rally that seemed to decide the game for Pella Christian. Camden Parker and Hugen scored over the next nine minutes, giving the Eagles a 5-2 lead with less than 10 minutes left in the game.
“We just kept competing,” Pella Christian head coach Mike Vander Molen said. “Albia kept attacking us. We knew we had to keep scoring goals to get out of here with a win. We just kept passing the ball together because they made a lot of adjustments. , we tried to counter those adjustments.”
The Eagles (3-1) held a three-point lead until the final three minutes and appeared to have the game decided. The Blue Demons (2-1) were able to give Albia some breathing room and cut the lead to 5-3 with a foul on Connor Renaud in the box with 2:58 left, giving Albia a penalty kick. .
Dylan Renaud then scored on an attack with 52.8 seconds left off a pass from Lance Helm, giving Albia plenty of life. One more shot would suddenly give the Blue Demons a chance to take the Eagles to overtime, increasing their chances of remaining undefeated.
But Hugen dashed those hopes on the very next kickoff. With less than a minute left, Albia moved forward for an immediate turnover and a chance to score the equalizing goal before time expired.
Instead, Hugen burst through the field ahead of the Blue Demons. With 40 seconds left, the junior scored his fourth goal of the night, ultimately settling a hard-fought game.
“I don't think I've ever been in a more competitive, high-scoring game,” Johnson said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how the children will react in the future.”
