Solanco's boys soccer team switched to a new formation and started performing better. The Mules pushed league power Manheim Central but lost 3-1 Saturday. The host Barons took the lead on a goal off a corner kick 20 minutes into the game. "Free kicks somehow seem to kills us," said Solanco coach Ron Miller. The Mules (2-7) tied it six minutes later when Colin Kilgore converted a pass from Evan Salisbury. Solanco came within 30 seconds of going into halftime tied at 1-1, but Central scored the go-ahead goal off another corner.
"That was a backbreaker," Miller said. "We took the momentum back and were outplaying them. It was a totally devastating goal." The Mules had a golden opportunity to tie the game in the second half. Nick Boulé played a deep ball to Cody Bleacher who would've had a breakaway, but the official ruled Bleacher was offside. Miller said the call was incorrect because the ball was played while Bleacher was still on the Solanco side of the field. "I lost my mind," the coach said. "How could he possibly be offside when he was on his own side of the field? It should've been 2-2. Time and time again Solanco gets nailed with a [bad] call that costs us. It's so frustrating because the kids played well." The Barons added an insurance goal with four minutes left. "It was a very good game," Miller said. "It was definitely ours for the taking or at least to send it into overtime. It was a shame when the referees determine the outcome of any match." Earlier in the week, Solanco went from a 3-2-3-2 formation to a 4-5-1. "We've been playing 100 times better," said Miller. "I probably should've done it earlier in the season." The Mules defeated Lebanon 5-3 last Wednesday. Bryan Olivares notched a hat trick to lead Solanco. Amazingly, two different Mule goalies recorded an assist. "The score should've been 9-1," Miller said. "They scored two sloppy goals." Olivares scored 12 minutes in off an assist from Ethan Smolnik. Lebanon tied it eight minutes later. With six minutes left in the half, Olivares ran on to a booming punt by Jacob Zook and scored to put the Mules back in front. Lebanon tied it on a penalty kick goal 30 seconds into the second half. Soanco took the lead for good three minutes later when Salisbury headed a home a cross from Cody Bleacher. Boulé scored unassisted five minutes later to lengthen the lead to 4-2. Lebanon got back within a goal with 11 minutes to go before Olivares completed his hat trick. Goalie Dylan Sheaffer punted the ball and it took a big bounce to the top of the penalty area. Olivares was there to pounce on the ball and score. "Bryan always seems to be in the right spot at the right time," Miller said. On Monday, September 21, Ephrata upended the Mules 5-2. The Mounts took the lead in the 31st minute and added another two minutes later. Solanco misfired on an opportunity midway through the second half and Ephrata converted a penalty kick to go up 3-0 and then made it 4-0. The Mules got on the board on Kilgore's first career varsity goal and Boulé added a goal before Ephrata capped the scoring with four minutes left. "The kids didn't give up," said Miller. "They give everything they have until the final whistle and that's all I can ask for." Comments are closed.
|
Archives
August 2023
Categories
All
|