Riess nets hat trick to help Vets down Winman

By Matt Metcalf
Posted 10/6/16

The first installment of the Warwick Vets-Winman rivalry was played on Monday, with Vets downing its cross-city adversary, 5-0, in a boys' soccer matchup at Bend Street Complex. Behind a hat trick from Travis Riess, Vets

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Riess nets hat trick to help Vets down Winman

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The first installment of the Warwick Vets-Winman rivalry was played on Monday, with Vets downing its cross-city adversary, 5-0, in a boys’ soccer matchup at Bend Street Complex.

Behind a hat trick from Travis Riess, Vets remained undefeated while pushing its record to 3-0-1.

Dylan Bourret and Thomas Mulligan each added a goal, as well, for a team that has displayed tremendous depth and the ability to mesh well early on.

“With the way I want them to play, they have to work,” Vets head coach Jim Hovey said of his squad. “They’re really starting to get it. I’m very pleased.”

Vets’ style of play helped it produce a near-flawless first half.

Just over four minutes into the half, Paulo Frias started a break with a good through ball to Jacob Holland, who fired a shot on goal. Holland’s shot was blocked down, but the rebound was cleaned up by Riess to give Vets a 1-0 lead.

In the 7th minute, Vets nearly doubled its lead when Eric Martins missed a goal by inches, sending a missile off the left post.

However, Vets would convert on a chance seven minutes later when Frias crossed a ball into the box for Riess at the far post, who headed a shot to the back of the net to make it 2-0.

Although Riess is smaller than most players on the field, his skill and awareness allow him to be in the right place at the right time.

“He’s very small, that’s why I have him outside on the wing by himself,” Hovey said of Riess. “We do that so he can go one-on-one with people, which he can. He’s very good and he has a great head for what’s going on.”

Winman didn’t have many opportunities to answer in the first half, with its best chance coming in the 21st minute when Brendan Russo sprinted down the right wing and ripped a shot off the side of the near post.

Other than that, though, Vets had Winman on its heels for the opening 30 minutes.

Offensive pressure continued to pay off for Vets, as Bourret slid to tap in a pass from John O’Donnell to up the advantage to three minutes before the first half came to a close.

In the second half, Winman produced more chances, but, for the most part, Vets’ defense kept the opposition in check.

Hovey spoke highly of two mainstays, in particular, on the back end.

“My defenders are playing very well, particularly Kenny Rix and Aaron Narcavage,” Hovey said. “They play the whole game, control the back and know what’s going on.”

While Winman’s offense couldn’t find the back of the net after the break, Vets’ offense continued to click.

Riess completed his hat trick with a shot off the left post and in midway through the second half, and Mulligan powered a shot through the keeper to make it 5-0 eight minutes later.

Winman (0-4) was set to play Hope Highlands on Wednesday, but results were unavailable at press time. It will also take on first-place Bain (4-0-1) on the road Friday at 4 p.m.

Results were also unavailable for Vets’ game at Western Hills on Wednesday. Vets will be back on the pitch Friday when it hosts Ferri at 3:30 p.m.

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