By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media
WALESKA, Ga. - Taylor Gray and Aaron Whitten each earned a pair of goals, while four additional teammates found the back of the net as Reinhardt dismantled the Tornadoes of Talladega (Ala.), 8-1, under the lights Tuesday night at home.
The Eagles (7-5-1) found their footing right away and put three scores on the board in the first 18 minutes. The visitors avoided a shutout with a 37th-minute penalty kick, but Reinhardt wouldn't be denied on this night.
Reinhardt went to the locker room ahead, 4-1, before adding four more scores in the second period of the runaway victory.
"Talladega has been in good form recently, winning four of their last five matches and their dynamic attacking ability is a constant threat to be dealt with," head coach Joey Johnson said. "It was important to start the match quickly and be tactically sound in our approach. Although there are always areas that can be improved, I thought there were many positives to be taken from this evening.
It is always a positive sign for a team this late in the season to be attacking and finishing scoring opportunities with confidence. Defensively, we have continued to make strides in the right direction in a number of areas that have needed improvement. It was a team-driven result tonight with contributions from all who set foot on the field."
Gray got the tallies started in the ninth minute before assisting Philip Frowis at the 11:15 mark. Whitten would then get in on the action with the first of his pair of scores just six minutes later for a 3-0 advantage.
Following the penalty kick by Talladega, Gray got his name called again a few minutes before halftime. A little over 10 minutes into the second half, Tauan Oliveira scored the first of four goals in just about 10-minute increments for the hometown squad.
Whitten's second goal would follow at 66:22, and then the duo of Trevor Robinson (76:32) and Yosr Frej (89:26) would cap off the night for the Eagles.
The high-octane affair saw Reinhardt narrowly outshoot the Tornadoes, 20-17. Individually, Severin Ryf made seven saves in a complete-game.
Gray and Whitten each totaled five shots and Antonio Ciardiello had two assists in the triumph.
It's back to Appalachian Athletic Conference play on Saturday, as the team welcomes new league member Kentucky Christian to Ken White Field at University Stadium for a 3:15 p.m. bout.
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