GRANITE CITY — Just barely a week out of preseason practice, Alton soccer coach Nick Funk has discovered something about his team he suspected could be true.
The Redbirds have developed a new personality – and he likes what he’s seeing.
Alton shook off a slow start Tuesday night, finally scored just before halftime, then rolled past Granite City 4-0 in a Southwestern Conference game at Gene Baker Field.
“Last year, we had to beat up teams to win,” Funk said. “This year, we can go around them.
“We were built around a few guys up the middle last season, but this year, I think we probably have the best team position-by-position that Alton has had in five or six years.”
The victory, in which the Redbirds outshot the Warriors 17-4, has Alton sitting at 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the SWC. Joe Morrissey had two goals for the Redbirds.
“Coming out of preseason, I wasn’t sure, but I thought we might have a chance to be pretty good,” Funk said. “We still have a lot of things to work on, of course.”
The Redbirds indeed started slowly against Granite City, but still maintained an edge in possession despite not putting the ball in the goal.
That changed with 36 seconds remaining in the half when Blake Dunse scored off an assist from Sam Van Voorhees.
“We had probably 80 percent of the possession, but didn’t finish,” Funk said of the redbirds’ first-half play.
In the second half, Morrissey doubled the Redbirds lead in the 46th minute when he headed in a cross from Parker Rockholm.
Three minutes later, Morrissey was at it again. He scored on a headball off a long-range direct free kick by Sam Stutz.
“(Morrissey) is a stud for us,” Funk said. “He provides a real spark. Last year, he was out because of illness most of the season and didn’t even get a start until the regional. His speed and finishing ability are great and he’s outstanding in the air.”
The Redbirds finished the scoring when Lucas Admire won the ball off an errant clearing pass by the Granite City defense and scored from the left side, about 20 yards out, inside the near post.
“We’re looking like a totally different team from last year,” Funk said. “We weren’t scoring early tonight, but we stayed with it and kept working at it and finally broke through.”
The redbirds will step outside the SWC Saturday when they travel to Quincy to face the Quincy High Blue devils.
“That’ll be another good test,” Funk said. “We need to play consistently and keep working.”
