Peter Vukovic scored three goals to lead Kirtland to a 7-0 win over visiting Edgewood in a key Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division game for the first-place Hornets.
“This was an important game as we are still in the hunt for the conference championship,” Kirtland coach John Valentic said. “It was complete, thorough, and focused. All healthy players got significant minutes and maintained the standard we’ve established so, overall, we are pleased.”
The Hornets, who improved to 10-2 overall and 5-0 in league play can clinch the league title with a win at Geneva on Tuesday.
With his three goals, Vukovic moved into a tie with Marko Cubela for the second-most goals scored on the team.
He beat two defenders for a tap-in on his first goal and then outran the defense from the midfield on the second.
“I saw a gap through a couple of defenders and was able to split and beat them and take it to the goal, where I finished it in the bottom right corner,” Vukovic said.
His third goal was set up off a Josip Mijic-Barisic shot that deflected off the keeper.
“I think that tonight’s game really helped to boost not only my confidence but my team’s confidence as well for future games,” Vukovic said. “The games like this are a good chance for us to build as individuals and as a team.”
Lance Dolovacky, Mario Rodin, Tyler Banyasz and Nico Podojil-Schlesinger also scored for the Hornets. Cubela recorded two assists while Jason de Zwaan, Peter Mijic-Barisic and Podojil-Schlesinger each assisted on one goal.
Banyasz, who scored on a penalty kick, also recorded one save in notching his eighth shutout of the season.
