Minot High School senior forward P.K. Annan and sophomore forward Ekow Annan continued their dominance this season, shredding the Jamestown defense in a 7-0 victory Saturday at Optimist Soccer Complex.
Honored before the game - along with the other six seniors on the team - P.K. Annan recorded a hat trick before sitting out the final 28 minutes of the game.
"It's fun to have them on the team," MHS coach Cody Saunders said. "The way they can put the ball in the net is incredible and helps us out a lot."
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Tim Chapman/MDN
Minot High School senior forward P.K. Annan gets past Jamestown sophomore defenseman Tyler Gaffaney and beats senior goalkeeper Hunter Munson for his first goal of the game Saturday at Optimist Soccer Complex.
P.K. Annan gave MHS the lead in the 15th minute on a lead pass from Ekow Annan. P.K. Annan outran sophomore defenseman Tyler Gaffaney before placing a shot past senior goalkeeper Hunter Munson at the far-side goal post. P.K. Annan's first goal was the Magicians' 11th shot on goal of the first half.
"We're just finding each other more," P.K. Annan said. "We're learning about different aspects of the game. Team chemistry is really coming together."
MHS (10-4-1 overall, 6-3 West Region) took a two-goal lead at halftime on freshman forward Matt Oswalt's goal in the 31st minute. Sophomore midfielder K.J. Wright set up the scoring play with a cross into the box that Oswalt picked out of the air and past a diving Munson.
"When we pass the ball we're a better team," Ekow Annan said.
The Magicians outshot the Blue Jays 22-1 in the first half.
Going against a strong wind in the second half didn't slow down the MHS offense. P.K. Annan netted his second goal in the 42nd minute with Ekow Annan earning the assists.
Ekow Annan scored a goal of his own 34 seconds later after stealing a pass in Jamestown's defensive end to give the Magicians a 4-0 lead.
P.K. Annan capped his day in the 52nd minute when he headed in a cross from Ekow Annan. Ekow Annan finished with a goal and three assists, all of which came on his brother's goals.
"We really like playing with each other," Ekow Annan said. "We know where each other is going to be."
Said P.K. Annan: "I've loved every single day. I'm definitely going to miss it when I leave for college."
Despite the lopsided victory for MHS, Munson played well for the Blue Jays. He finished with 22 saves on 27 shots faced before being replaced by eighth-grader Adam Reiten. Reiten finished with two saves on four shots.
Defensively, the Magicians kept Jamestown (2-11, 2-7) out of the MHS defensive zone throughout the game.
"That starts with the midfielders and the communication with the defensemen," Saunders said. "That's what we're focusing on. Our whole team is where it needs to be right now. We're peaking at the right time and it's getting exciting.
The Magicians host Bismarck St. Mary's (8-6-1, 6-3) at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.