The Middletown High School boys varsity soccer team topped the Catoctin Cougars, 3-0, in the first round of the playoffs on Oct. 23.

Defender Marshall Truitt scored the first goal after heading the ball in on a corner kick from midfielder Jonathan Tatem, with only six minutes left in the first half.

Varsity goalie Eric Reichelt was credited with the shutout for the game.

“I think we played really well,” said Reichelt. “They didn’t stand much of a chance against us.”

“Just keep talking and keep focusing,” Tatem said.

Reichelt added, “We can cut down on the through balls and long balls that were beating us over the top.”

Tatem played well with assists on two of Middletown’s three goals in the game.

“I think I attacked the midfield well and found through balls for our offense to have a great chance of finishing,” said Tatem.

Near the end of the first half, a collision between Noah Stone, Cougars goalkeeper, and midfielder Clay Smith left both of them on the ground.

Smith got back up, but the Catoctin goalie was taken off the field after excessive care for the shattered arm and cut on his head.

In the second half, Smith had a great half, with two goals scored in a matter of 30 seconds.

One goal scored by Smith off an assist from Tatem to make the score 2-0 in minute 23.

For Smith’s next goal, he volleyed a deflected header off of a Catoctin defender, scoring in the lower left corner of the goal, the goalie’s dive being inches away from stopping the ball.

Middletown’s varsity soccer head coach Jeff Colsh said his players were great.

He added, “That was our job. Now we just advance to the next round.”

Colsh has been the head coach of the varsity squad since 2011.

Middletown boys varsity soccer has won four championships, 1929, 1973, 1980, 1993, and is hoping to win its fifth this year.

For Middletown’s next playoff game, they will be taking on the Oakdale Bears on Oct. 28.