Penalty Kicks Determine the Game’s Final Outcome
Submitted by Jared Mumley, Manson High School
In a league thriller, the Manson Trojan boys soccer team edged Bridgeport in penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw.
Manson began the game on the back foot with Bridgeport making dangerous passes through the Trojan back line. Arturo Valdovinos did well to keep the first few shots out of the goal. Manson, though, did create some chances of their own. Midfielders Heri Sarmiento and Abelardo Sanchez both had strong efforts saved by the Bridgeport goalkeeper. Eventually Bridgeport found a way through the makeshift Manson defense and Valdovinos was helpless to stop the go-ahead-goal.
The rest of the half was an even battle with both teams coming close. Eberardo Aguilar had Manson’s best chance of the half when he found himself unmarked on the far post after the ball made it through on a corner kick but he skied his effort over the bar from just four yards out.
At halftime the Trojans made some adjustments. Most notably Marcos Mendoza was added to the lineup as defensive midfielder. And it was Mendoza, after thirty minutes of pressure on Bridgeport, who finally made the difference. He picked up the ball near the halfway line and raced toward the Bridgeport goal, beating four defenders before placing the ball perfectly in the top left hand corner to even things up. It was a goal the Trojans deserved after their sustained pressure.
After ten more minutes of regulation and another ten of overtime the score line was still locked at one to one. The teams were forced to settle the game with penalty kicks. Manson converted their first four spot kicks while goalkeeper Valdovinos made two huge saves to secure the Trojan victory. Not a smooth win by any means but a win that epitomized the togetherness and grit of this young Trojan team.
Next up is Tonasket on Tuesday April 10th for another league contest.
