Soccer team completes seventh week of season

The Manchester team celebrates following the victory against Lenawee Christian School.

submitted by Scott Somerville

The Manchester Boys’ Varsity Soccer team completed a busy seventh week of regular season competition with four matches, starting on Monday, October 3.

Playing away against the Comets of Jonesville High School, the Dutchmen jumped to an early lead 3:10 into the match with a goal by sophomore midfielder Jesse Sangster, assisted by junior winger Carson Horky. Two minutes later, senior captain Luke Somerville intercepted a Jonesville pass and converted the second goal for Manchester. At the six-minute mark, junior midfielder Luis Baron took a corner kick that was skillfully placed just in front of the Jonesville net and converted off a header by Somerville for Manchester’s third goal of the match. At the nine-minute mark, Baron assisted Sangster for the fourth goal.

For the next 12 minutes, the Comets held the Dutchmen scoreless until 19:15 left in the first when Sangster scored assisted by Somerville giving Sangster the hat trick. Two minutes later, sophomore Philip Monschau-Johnson took a shot that ricocheted off the post and was finished by Somerville for Somerville’s hat trick and the second time this season that both Sangster and Somerville each have had a hat trick in the same game.

With 2:57 left in the first, junior Ryan Kelley scored the seventh goal for Manchester off the assist from senior captain Tyler Lutton. Monschau-Johnson scored the eighth goal, assisted by Somerville and the final goal was from junior Mason Meyer assisted by Sangster. Strong defense by senior captain Jacob Morin, Lutton, Kelly, and sophomore Jeffrey Sangster kept the comets off the board. At the end of the first half, Manchester had the 9–0 lead that enacted the mercy rule and the game was ended, giving the shut out to Manchester’s keeper, senior Trent Aiuto.

The following day, October 4, the Dutchmen faced the Cougars of Lenawee Christian School at home. In a rivalry game, Manchester jumped to the early lead six minutes into the match with a goal from Somerville from an excellent through-ball from Sangster. Sixteen minutes later, the Cougars were able to get the equalizer from a goal by mid-fielder Christian Orta. With six minutes left in the first, Somerville netted the second goal, again assisted by Sangster. Entering halftime, Manchester held the slim 2–1 lead.

At the beginning of the second half, the Dutchmen exploded to their third goal 16 seconds after kickoff from good combination passing between Jeffrey Sangster, Jesse Sangster, Somerville (assist) to Baron who shot just past the Cougars’ keeper. Twelve minutes later, Manchester netted the third goal after Jeffrey Sangster’s shot deflected off the keeper and was tapped in by Somerville, getting his third for the match and the hat trick. The fourth goal came from a deep through-ball to Somerville that was passed back to senior striker Maxwell Woods who shot just over the keeper’s hands to give Manchester the 5–1 lead. With 3:10 left in the game, newcomer Luke Helmke scored the Dutchmen’s sixth goal, and Helmke’s first of the season, assisted by Meyer. At the final whistle, Manchester prevailed 6–1, giving the Dutchmen their first victory over the Cougars since 2018.

Two days later, the Manchester team traveled to play the Warriors of Lutheran Westland High School. Playing on grass, under the lights, and on a narrow (football) field, Manchester netted the first goal after Somerville was fouled in the penalty box, setting up a penalty kick for Manchester. Baron took the PK for Manchester and converted, giving the Dutchmen the 1–0 lead. For the remaining time in the half, the game was held scoreless by both teams’ strong defense, combined with the narrow field that stifled Manchester’s ability to play wide. In the second, the two defenses continued to prevent goals until Manchester fouled a Warriors player in the penalty box, setting up the second penalty kick of the match.

With 10:10 left in the half, the Warriors converted the PK, knotting the game at one apiece. At the final whistle, the game was a 1–1 draw.

The final game of the week for Manchester was Saturday, October 8, at Michigan Center. Playing the Cardinals on grass, Manchester scored the first goal 12 minutes into the match from a Somerville goal, assisted by Jesse Sangster. Sangster netted the second of the match two minutes later off the assist by Baron. At the 26-minute mark, Somerville netted the third goal for Manchester with the assist by Woods. The fourth goal was a Somerville–Baron combination in the middle, putting the Dutchmen up 4–0 entering halftime. Six minutes into the second half, Somerville and Baron again combined with the final goal coming from Somerville off a Jesse Sangster assist. This was the 90th time this season Somerville and Jesse Sangster have combined for a Dutchmen score.

At the final whistle, Manchester prevailed 6–0, giving the shut-out to the strong defensive play by Morin, Kelly, and sophomore Sawyer Lutton with goalkeeper Aiuto registering six saves.

This week, Manchester will host the Warriors of Grass Lake on Monday, October 10, with a 4pm kickoff. This game will also be senior night, recognizing the senior players and their families. On Thursday, October 13, Manchester will travel to Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central for the first round of district playoffs. Kickoff is at 4:30pm.

The Manchester team and their moms pose together after the “Pink Out” game vs Lenawee Christian in honor and support of Breast Cancer Awareness. (Photos courtesy of Scott Somerville)

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.