tool name

Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009

Injured Manga returns to bail out Devils late

There was a huge upset in the first game of the boys' Fayette County Soccer Spectacular at Henry Clay on Tuesday night as No. 1 Male was upended by unranked Central Hardin 2-0.

Eighth-ranked Henry Clay looked like it could be the next upset special, but the Devils got a timely goal from sophomore John Manga to drop Lafayette 1-0 in the second game.

"I felt really relieved," Manga said of his goal with 10 minutes left. "I felt really big relief that we got one in against these guys because their defense was staying in the box the whole time."

Manga, who rolled an ankle in the first half and looked unlikely to return, was able to not only get back but also to score the game-winner after streaking down the left side of the field with the ball.

Manga sliced it just past the outstretched body of goalie Alex Moody, who had saved six shots on goal prior to that.

Henry Clay spent almost the entire first half on Lafayette's side of the field pestering Moody and the Generals defenders.

But stop after stop seemed to give Lafayette some confidence in the second half.

The Generals, who didn't have a shot on goal in the first 58 minutes of the game, got two in less than three minutes, but the Devils responded with the Manga goal.

"As a coach you're always concerned about getting a goal, but I knew we'd find a way to score eventually," Coach Tim Bernardi said.

Central Hardin 2, Male 0: The Bulldogs' top ranking lasted all of one game.

The Bruins got a goal from sophomore Noah Wiersema in the first half and then a Taylor Sheeran penalty kick late made it 2-0 to knock off the team that the coaches voted pre-season No. 1.

Central Hardin 2, Male 0

Goals—Noah Wiersema, Taylor Sheeran. Goalkeepers—CH: Dakota Bowen; M: Taylor Hafling.

Records — Central Hardin 1-0, Male 0-1.

Henry Clay 1, Lafayette 0

Goals—John Manga. Goalkeepers—HC: Kyler Brooks; L: Alex Moody.

Records — Henry Clay 1-0, Lafayette 0-1.