On a night that honored his late father, Temple Christian’s Nick Standridge wanted nothing more than to net a hat trick (3 goals). The star forward got his wish and then some, unleashing 5 goals in a 9-6 Temple Christian Crusader victory over Willard Crimson Flashes on Friday night match.
“With this being my dad’s ceremony night I really wanted to have a good game. My goals were to have at least a hat trick – three goals,” said Nick Standridge.
Nick Standridge’s father Jeff Standridge passed away in July at age 40 after battling multiple health complications. The team and supporters gathered around the home bleachers to remember the long time fan, volunteer and assistant coach at Temple, in an emotional pre-game ceremony.
“He was just a huge support to the team in general,” said Crusaders’ head coach Eric Humble. “He was always such an encourager to the guys… and he was just a big moral support to the team.”
The team hung a banner in memory of Jeff Standridge from the chain link at the west end of the field. Then Nick Standridge went to work with a laser focus.
The fleet-footed forward netted the first goal, but that score was quickly answered by Kenneth Alejandro of Willard. Standridge weaved his way through defenders and banged the ball through the legs of one remaining defender for his second score. Willard answered again when the right foot of Emmanuel Diaz sent a booming shot from the top of the box. That set the stage for the moment of the night.
Temple’s swarming offense pushed the ball deep into Willard territory and gained a corner kick. The sure feet of Caleb Walters lofted the ball neatly into a crowd of leaping Crusaders and Crimson Flashes. Willard goalkeeper Brandon Wilson leaped and deflected the ball just outside the opposite post. That’s where Nick Standridge curled around defenders to meet the ball.
With leaping attempt on the deflection, Nick Standridge popped the ball back by the defense and into the net. Crusader fans and players erupted in appreciation. It was a moment that Nick Standridge had been waiting for all summer.
“I knew (the ceremony) was going to be this night. My thoughts going in were (that) I was preparing for this game and this game only,” said Nick Standridge. “After this game, I’m preparing for the rest of the year, but up until now it was preparing for this game.”
“It’s just exciting for him, because he’s been through so much in these last couple of months,” noted Humble. “For him to step up like that tonight and have five goals like that is incredible.”
The teams traded punches until half. Willard would score twice more and Temple answered with an arching shot off the left foot of freshman Daniel Spencer and a swift strike from Jacob McClelland to make it 5-4 at half.
The Willard squad performed admirably, keeping pressure on the home team throughout the game. But Temple’s up-tempo, aggressive offense pressed the gas and simply did what they do best: score goals.
The second half of Friday night featured more fireworks on offense as Nick Standridge scored again to start the second half, McClelland added another, junior Jordan Martin walked in the eighth score and Standridge punched in his final of five scores.
The Willard program is entering its second year, having just moved from a club program to varsity sport in 2013. On the night the Flashes enjoyed a healthy burst of offense as Kenneth Alejandro netted three goals for the Flashes. Emmanuel Diaz punched in two and Mario Gonsalez added another.
Crimson Flashes head coach Benjamin Guerra said he was happy with his squad’s effort, “I’m really happy with the kids. They never gave up. They scored on us, (we) came back…at the end of the last quarter, (our team) started to get tired, but they did very well. They’ve improved a lot.”
Temple will travel to Northside Christian on Monday. The Crimson Flashes travel to Sandusky on Tuesday.
No. 24
During the ceremony, Nick Standridge stood with his brother Zach Standridge, a 2011 graduate and former midfielder Crusaders and sister Brooke Standridge, a 2013 alum. As a tribute to their late assistant coach, the team gave the multi-sport Standridge siblings a no. 24 Crusaders jersey signed by the team.
Nick Standridge explained, “My [jersey] number is 2. My brother’s number was 4 – so my dad really liked the number 24. He kinda said ‘Two times four equals eight – which is my sister’s number. So that was kinda cool.”
Defense
The Crusader offense has given their each of their early season opponents nightmares at a rate of 9 goals per game.
That will serve them well as Temple prepares to run a gamut that features Loudonville, Mansfield Senior, Mansfield St. Peter’s and private school powerhouse Western Reserve Academy.
For Humble, the crux of the stretch for the Crusaders is in their back line. “We have to get more solid on being aggressive and just marking up (on defense),” said Humble. “A couple of the goals we got scored on tonight were simply marking problems – no pressure, no marking.”
He noted that practice has and will continue to emphasize dialing up pressure on defense.
