by Matthew Stokes
BerryVikings.com Staff Writer

Popple Scores Match-Winning Goal For Vikings 

Reid Popple scored what turned out to be the match-winning goal in the 63rd minute to give Berry a 2-1 victory over Reinhardt Tuesday at Berry's Ford Field.

The Vikings led 1-0 at halftime after Zak Wallingford's tally at 22:24, which was assisted by Popple. It was the freshman's fourth goal of the season and second in as many games.

"That was one of the nicest goals we've scored all year," Berry head coach Richard Vardy said. "It was all about control, movement and speed of play."

The Vikings' lead did not last for long, as Reinhardt took advantage of a miscue by Berry goalkeeper Kevin Madigan.  The sophomore mishandled a cross in front of the goal by the visiting team, and Reinhardt's Jansen Berry was there to boot home the loose ball at 45:44, tying the game, 1-1.

The home team bounced back, though, and it was Popple doing the damage this time. The co-captain took a ball headed upfield to him by Daniel Wartner, dribbled a bit and then blasted the ball into the upper right section of the goal at 62:58, his third goal of the season.

"We were sharper and quicker to the ball, and Reid got there and it was a nice finish," Vardy said of the decisive score.

The two teams fired off eight shots apiece, with Berry owning the advantage in terms of shots on goal, 3-1. Popple and Steven Weeks had two shots each for the Vikings while John Connolly led Reinhardt with three.

Madigan finished the day with three saves while Reinhardt keeper Zack Schultze had a single stop.

The win brings the Vikings' record back to .500 for the first time since Sept. 11.

Berry's next game will be this Saturday when it hosts Bryan College, 1:00 p.m., at Ford Field. The Vikings will honor its seniors then.

Notes: Freshmen have now accounted for sixty percent of Berry's goals scored in 2011 (nine out of 15)…Berry has now played in seven matches decided by one goal, going 4-3 in those matches.

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