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Salem dealt the Rockbridge County High School boys soccer team a 5-0 defeat in a non-district match in Lexington.
John Lindberg recorded 20 saves for the Wildcats (1-13-0). Elijah Clark notched two goals for the Spartans (12-2-2), while Graham Fischer and Lucas Yerton also scored.
Salem outshot RC 46-3 in the game and held a 17-2 advantage in corner kicks. But Lindberg and the Wildcat defense stood tall for most of the first half. The 'Cats' senior goalkeeper used his feet to deny Clark from close range in the 22nd minute, and he made a diving fingertip save on Graham Cross' 20-yard curler seven minutes later.
Yet Salem maintained the pressure, and the visitors broke through for three goals in the final eight minutes of the period. Fischer bundled in a cross from inside the 6-yard box in the 33rd minute to get the Spartans on the board. Yerton headed home T.J. Fisher's cross in the 38th minute, and an own goal from RC would make it 3-0 just before halftime.
Lindberg produced several fine stops in the second half as well. He made a double save in the 43rd minute, repelling a 20-yard free kick as well as the point-blank follow-up, and he again got his fingers to a long shot -- this time from Logan Lavinder -- in the 50th.
The Spartans kept coming, and Clark's second-half brace -- an 8-yard effort in the 53rd minute and a tight-angle finish with eight minutes remaining -- provided the final margin.
The Wildcats' best offensive chances came inside the final 10 minutes. Shortly before Clark's second goal, Ethen Camden's long free kick from the right touchline was parried over the net by Salem reserve goalkeeper James Johnson. Noah Carroll then produced another save from Johnson when his looping shot off of a deflected corner was stopped on the final kick of the game.
RC is scheduled to visit Valley District rival Broadway on Tuesday, beginning with junior varsity action at 5:30 p.m.
