As Thursday’s game against Pennsauken grew closer and closer, the Boys Soccer team looked to avenge a loss earlier in the week to South Jersey powerhouse Cherokee.  A 1-0 road loss left the team looking to rebound against a subpar Pennsauken squad.

Ben Wirtshafter (’12) got another start in goal Thursday after a good performance against Cherokee.  Things got off to a good start on Thursday afternoon for the Cougars as Gary Lindgren (’12) capitalized on a penalty kick about five minutes into the game.  The score would remain 1-0 until late in the 1^st half.

In the 35^th minute Jake Faford (’13) put a second in the back of the net for the Cougars.  Only two minutes later Faford would bang another one home giving East a 3-0 lead with 5 minutes left in the half.  Pennsauken scored a late goal in the 1^st half as well, leaving the score after 45 minutes, East 3-1.

The second half was all Cougars as they continued the offensive onslaught, scoring four goals in a 33-minute span.  In the game’s 47^th minute Lindgren scored again extending the lead to 4-1, ten minutes later Tyler Berlinsky (’12) found the back of the net, follow by Jake Russ (’14) in the 73^rd minute, and Zach Steinbock (’13) in the 80^th minute.

While there was a lot of offense in this game, it’s important not to overlook the defensive effort the Cougars put fourth against the Indians from Pennsauken.  Led by Jake Pelligreno (’12) and Adam Cohler (’13) East limited the shots on goal from Pennsauken and three saves by Wirtshafter did the job to seal the deal.

This win puts the Cougars to within one game of 500 at 4-5 on the year.

“It was great to get the win and well look to build on that in the future” said Faford,, one of the many stars of the gae.

The team will look to do just that on Friday as Gloucester Catholic pays a visit to Cherry Hill East.