PEP TALK — Big Red head coach Greg Bowers talks with his team following Saturday’s game. - Aaron Petchal

STEUBENVILLE — The Big Red boys’ soccer team controlled the first half against Cambridge, however, Big Red struggled to finish their numerous opportunities.

That changed in the second half as the Red and Black collected goals on five of their seven shots on goal en route to a 7-1 victory against the Bobcats on a hot Saturday afternoon on Reno Saccoccia Field inside Harding Stadium.

“It was a good day,” Big Red (1-0) head coach Greg Bowers said. “We are a week late starting compared to most teams. It is nice to get out and get our first game under our belt.”

The season started Aug. 15, and the match was the fourth for the Bobcats (0-4).

“We made some mistakes,” Bowers said. “We missed some easy opportunities, and that can come back and get you. Our defense was solid. We have to improve. We have to improve our touch and our effort. Those have to get better.”

Cole Bowers collected four goals to lead the way offensively for the victors, Landon Bowers and Tad Loot each tallied a goal and an assist while Joey Rice recorded a goal. Also, Chase Beall, Josiah Rea, Wells Gage and Thomas Stanchfield all finished with an assist.

Freshman goalie JJ Lamantia made two saves in his first varsity game.

David Garcia scored the lone goal of the match for the boys from Guernsey County off an assist by Rylan Mathews.

Steele Britton made 10 saves in goal for the visitors.

Big Red struck first as the hosts scored their first goal of the season 70 seconds into the match as Rice beat Britton with a shot to give the boys from Jefferson County an early 1-0 lead with 38:50 left to play in the first half.

Big Red added to its advantage a little more than eight minutes later when Cole Bowers scored off a feed from Landon Bowers to extend Big Red’s advantage to 2-0 with 30:44 remaining in the first half.

Big Red outshot Cambridge, 17-2, in the first half with 10 of those shots coming on goal. The Bobcats missed the target on both of their shots.

Big Red continued to attack in the second half, and they found the back of the net much more often.

Another quick goal enabled the boys in red to increase their advantage to 3-0 as Landon Bowers tickled the twine with 37:40 left to play.

Cole Bowers recorded the next three goals to give Big Red a 6-0 lead. His first one came with 22:41 left to play, his second with 11:48 and the third with 10:25 to bring the running clock into action.

Loot capped the scoring for Big Red with 8:29 still showing on the scoreboard clock.

“It’s the law of averages,” Coach Bowers said. “We had to knock in some more. We were going to start to finish more. We just had to keep shooting and more were going to go in. Having momentum helps too.”

Garcia scored a late goal to prevent the boys in white from being shutout.

“Coach (J.R.) Fox is a good friend of mine,” Coach Bowers said. “He has a good coach. It is always nice to play them.”

Big Red ended the match with 26 shots – 17 of which were on goal. Cambridge took seven shots – three of which were on target.

Big Red’s offensive pressure resulted in the Bobcats taking 16 goal kicks, while Big Red took 10. Big Red had a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks.

“This is a game we look forward to whether it is out there or here,” Coach Bowers said. “It is good test for us against a team from outside our area.”

Big Red has opened the season many times against the Bobcats.

Big Red is scheduled to play Linsly at 5 p.m. today down at The Highlands.

Cambridge is slated to play East Liverpool on the road at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday up at Patterson Field.