SACO — Simon Trcka, who comes from the Czech Republic, is fitting in quite nicely with the Thornton Academy boys’ soccer team.

Trcka, who started the season on the junior varsity, scored both goals Tuesday to lead the Trojans to a 2-0 victory against Cheverus in an SMAA game at Hill Stadium.

In his four varsity games, Trcka has seven goals.

He also scored 15 goals in eight games with the junior varsity.

“Simon does really well for us,” midfielder Dalton Moore said. “He knows how to play. He moves off the ball really well. He knows where to pass to and where to be at the right time when we need him.”

“He fits in with our style,” Coach Andy Carlson said. “We don’t have to modify what we do. He doesn’t modify what he does. He just adds to our depth and being dynamic.”

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Trcka scored his first goal seven minutes into the game, walking the ball from well inside the goalie box after Moore threaded a centering pass from the left end line through the defense.

“We didn’t put enough pressure (on him),” Cheverus Coach Colin Minte said.

“We let him turn and let him run free. It was the first time seeing him but he’s one of the better attacking players in the conference.”

Trcka added his second goal less than four minutes into the second half by putting in a direct kick from inside the bubble after he was taken down just the outside the penalty area.

Cheverus goalie Jake Tomkinson leapt and got one hand on the ball but couldn’t keep it from falling behind the goal line.

“We were lucky today to finish our opportunities early,” Carlson said. “In this league, if you play from ahead you can kind of dictate the play. If you’ve got to chase, then the opportunities aren’t always going to open up for you.”

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The Trojans, who opened with a 1-1 tie at Westbrook and a 3-0 loss at South Portland, have won six consecutive games.

“I think our guys have bought into moving without the ball and knocking it around,” Carlson said. “Our guys don’t care who scores.”

The Trojans held a 20-9 edge in shots over the Stags (4-3).

“We really didn’t start playing with any urgency or start competing until the last 15 minutes, when we had three or four really good chances,” Minte said.

Thornton goalie Andrew Coleman made four saves to post his third shutout of the season, and three of them came in the final 20 minutes.

“We’ve got to play 80 minutes hard without any lapses,” Minte said. “I thought we played well for the final 15 minutes, but for the first 60 minutes (Thornton Academy) was the better team.”

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For Trcka to play for the varsity at Thornton, his old high school in Prague had to sign a transfer waiver and the Maine Principals’ Association had to approve the move.

Trcka didn’t play for a high school team in the Czech Republic, where most schools don’t sponsor athletic teams.

Instead, he played soccer for a private athletic club.

“The players here do everything they can to improve so it’s the same as my athletic club,” he said.


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