Midway through season, varsity soccer holds solid 7-3-1 record

The Manchester Varsity Soccer team celebrates following Philip Monschau-Johnson’s goal against Jackson Christian School.

submitted by Scott Somerville

The Manchester Varsity Boys Soccer team completed their sixth week of competition with matches against Stockbridge and Jackson Christian High Schools.

Visiting Stockbridge on Tuesday September 27, the Dutchmen jumped to an early lead 3:56 into the match from a goal by senior captain Luke Somerville, with an assist from sophomore Jesse Sangster. Somerville and Sangster combined two more times in the next six minutes to put Manchester up 3-0 ten minutes into the match. At the 23rd minute, Sangster scored his first of the match with an assist from junior mid-fielder Luis Baron. Two minutes later, senior Maxwell Woods scored with an assist from Somerville. The final goal of the first half came again from Somerville, with an assist from junior midfielder Carson Horky. Excellent defense from senior captains Jacob Morin and Tyler Lutton with junior Ryan Kelly at outside-back and senior goalkeeper Trent Aiuto kept Stockbridge scoreless. Entering halftime, the Flying Dutchmen enjoyed a 6- 0 lead.

In the second half, Stockbridge netted their first goal at the 20-minute mark after a nice shot from the right side of the field just past Manchester’s backup goal keeper Kelly. With 14:32 remaining in the half, Somerville intercepted a Stockbridge pass and was able to convert Manchester’s seventh goal of the match. Twenty seconds later, sophomore midfielder Jeffrey Sangster won the ball in the middle and found Somerville who converted goal number eight, and Somerville’s sixth of the match. Now playing as winger, Kelly scored the final goal of the match, and his first for the season. Enacting the mercy rule, the game was ended with Manchester prevailing 9-1.

On Thursday September 29, Manchester hosted the visiting Royals of Jackson Christian School. In the inaugural “Pink Out” game in honor and support of Breast Cancer Awareness month, the Manchester team donned pink jerseys and pink socks and will continue to wear pink at all home games in October.

Eleven minutes into the game, Manchester scored first with a goal from Jesse Sangster with the assist from Somerville. The Royals demonstrated a strong defense and kept Manchester scoreless until four minutes left in the half when Jesse Sangster netted the second goal of the match off a nice feed and assist from Horky. Entering halftime, the Dutchman held the 2-0 lead.

In the second half, Somerville scored three minutes in with the assist from Woods. Two minutes later, Jeffrey Sangster won the ball in the middle and sent it wide-left to be collected by Somerville, who was able to slip by the Royals’ goalkeeper for the fourth Dutchman goal of the match. At the 30:08 mark, the Royals scored their first after a fast breakaway down the right side of the pitch. Four minutes after the Royals’ goal, Somerville scored with the assist from Jesse Sangster. The was the 15th time this season that Jesse Sangster and Somerville combined (goal/assist or assist/goal) for Manchester scores.

With 3:20 left in the match, sophomore Philip Monschau-Johnson scored his first for this season off a feed from Jesse Sangster. The final goal was scored with 1:35 left on the clock from Baron off a Jesse Sangster assist. At the final whistle, Manchester prevailed 7-1.

The Dutchmen currently hold a 7-3-1 record, and enter a busy two-week schedule with the below
matches:

• Oct 3 vs Jonesville, 5:30pm @ Jonesville HS
• Oct 4 vs Lenawee Christian, 7pm @ Home
• Oct 6 vs Lutheran Westland, 6pm @ Lutheran Westland HS
• Oct 8 vs. Michigan Center, 11am @ Michigan Center HS
• Oct 10 vs Grass Lake, 4pm @ Home
• [Playoff] Oct 12 vs Monroe St Mary Catholic Central, Time TBD @ MSMCC HS (Rosenbrook Field)

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.