By Fred Kroner
Ethan Merritt’s first-half hat trick was part of a six-goal explosion before intermission by the Oakwood/Salt Fork soccer team on Monday (Oct. 2) at home against Unity.
The Comets were victorious, 7-0.
The hat trick was the fifth of the year for Merritt.
Ty Smoot notched two goals for Oakwood/Salt Fork. Finishing with one score apiece were Derek Drews and Jacob Taflinger.
Brody Taflinger was the only Comet with more than one assist. He totaled two.
Teammates with assists were Trevor McCall, Cooper Myers, Macen Phillips and Saul Carrillo.
Oakwood/Salt Fork held a 33-2 edge on total shots attempted.
On Tuesday (Oct. 3), the Comets fell at Fisher, 4-1.
Merritt hit the lone Oakwood/Salt Fork goal.
Each school attempted 13 total shots in the match.
Jakob Rupp ended with three assists.
The Comets (14-7-1) have recorded 10 shutouts this season. The team returns to action on Thursday (Oct. 5) at home against Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin when they will try to secure an outright Vermilion Valley Conference championship.
The Thursday match will be the team’s final one of the regular season.
