The duPont Manual Varsity boys’ soccer team defeated the St. Francis Wyverns on Tuesday night by a score of 5-2.
Last night was the Crimsons’ final home game of the season, and featured a special halftime Senior Night ceremony with Principal Mayes.
The Wyverns were quick to set the pace in the opening moments, and drew first blood when midfielder Abas Isgowe scored off of a shot from the top of the box after a volley from Manual goalkeeper Andrew Hagan (#00,10).
However, just 12 minutes later, Hunter Guthrie (#5,11) evened the score after keeping the ball on-side and rocketing it into the back of the net.
The rest of the first half was played very defensively by both sides, until Guthrie stole the ball from the St. Francis defense and scored again, to put the Crimsons up 2-1 at the half.
At halftime, Seniors Hishem Alsalman, Scott Clark, Isaac Draper, Greg Healey, Phillip Lentsch, Parker McGuffey, Thomas Neuteufel, Michael Puffer, Sam Ross, Alex Rubino, Connor Shea, Zeke Smith, Erick Tafel, Lucas Taylor and Andrew Wood, along with their parents, were honored on the field and greeted by Principal Mayes and the underclassmen of the boys’ soccer team.
While the first half may have been fairly even, the outcome of the second half was different as the Crimsons practically put on a goal scoring clinic for the spectators.
St. Francis started scoring again when three minutes in Andrew Thurstone scored off of a free kick to even the score at 2. That’s when the Crimsons picked up the pace.
With 35 minutes remaining, Greg Healy (#13,12) scored on a header off of a corner kick. Not two minutes later, Manual defender Noah Braden (#23,11) drew a foul inside the box, resulting in a penalty kick. Healy took the shot and went to the bottom left and slipped the ball past the Wyverns goalkeeper.
Just over 28 minutes into the half, Jason Kidwell (#1, 10) crossed the ball to Riley Hook (#25,10) who scored, putting the finishing touches on the Crimsons’ victory.
The win put Manual at 5-6-1 this season. They face the St. Xavier Tigers on Thursday night.
