It was an emotional Senior Night for coach Ron Miller and the Solanco boys soccer team. The Mules said goodbye to six seniors who helped transform the program from perennial doormats to a team capable of competing against the section's top sides. The 2015 season did not go as Solanco (4-14) had expected and last Wednesday night's season finale against Manheim Central was a microcosm of the Mules' year. The hosts showed fight in battling back from a deficit but fell a bit short as Central prevailed 3-2.
Barons' freshman Zach Reed scored what proved to be the game-winner with 12:56 remaining in regulation. The Mules had a golden opportunity for the equalizer but Cody Bleacher's free kick from 30 yards out caromed off the crossbar with 7:25 to go. That was Solanco's last good chance. "He's the guy I like taking those shots," Miller said of Bleacher. "He's got the rifle foot. It just didn't bounce our way." The Mules had to claw their way out of a 2-0 hole despite controlling play in the early stages. Reed got loose down the left side of the box and slotted a left-footed shot inside the far post. Two minutes later, Solanco committed a foul in the box and John Hosler converted the penalty kick. "We dominated from the kickoff," said Miller. "We dominated for 12 or 13 minutes. Central scored and then a couple minutes later they get a PK, a legitimate one, so we're down 2-0. But as I told them at halftime, these kids fight hard. They give everything they have. I said, 'Hey, this game's not over. In my opinion, we were toe-to-toe the entire 40 minutes. There were just two unfortunate goals. But we can get back in it if we score that first goal in the second half. It's a new ballgame.' Sure enough…" Sure enough, the Mules battled back. With 28:32 to go, Evan Salisbury hit the post after Bleacher flicked a header toward the goal. Exactly one minute later, Nick Boulé put Solanco on the board by putting in his own rebound. The Mules got a big break with 17:45 left when they were awarded a penalty kick after a Central defender was whistled for a push in the box about 15 yards away from the goal. "That was a questionable call but for me, but not just this year but the last four years in general, there's been so many times where that call went against me," Miller said. "This time we got it." Bleacher calmly converted to tie the game at 2-2. Bryan Olivares was denied in front in a chance to give the Mules the lead and Reed's second of the night was the difference. It was the final game for seniors Boulé, Bleacher, Olivares, Ethan Smolik, Sam Broomell, and Cody Kauffman. "I could not be more proud of this group of kids," said Miller. "The six seniors I'm losing I'm going to miss immensely. I've watched them grow into fine young men, which has made it a little more emotional for me. But it only goes to show how much our coaches truly care about these guys. And they really responded on the field. They really played hard." Olivares scored four minutes into overtime as the Mules downed Lebanon 2-1 Monday, October 5. Solanco outshot Lebanon 15-1 in the first half but the lone shot bounced into the net off a Mule defender to put the Cedars ahead. "For the first time in four years they were complaining and arguing with each other," Miller said. "At halftime, I laid into them and told them if I heard any more negative comments that player would be sitting on the bench." Bleacher tied it on a free kick from 22 yards away midway through the second half. In overtime, Ben Root sent a long ball to Olivares down the right side and Olivares volleyed it into the upper left corner to end the game. Comments are closed.
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