DM Christian advances to face WCV-Stuart; Trojans hang it up at 7-8
By Drew Herron - NT Sports Editor / May 22, 2013
ATLANTIC – Whether it comes on the heels of blind luck or some incredibly skillful precision, Des Moines Christian is advancing along the tournament trail.
The Lions broke a scoreless stalemate with 13 minutes left in regulation Wednesday night when senior midfielder Travis Manderfield lofted a perfectly placed ball into the top left corner of the Trojans’ net, scoring the eventual game-winner and driving DMC along to a 1-0 playoff victory at AHS.
Manderfield moved along the edge of the 18-yard box before heaving a cross towards the crowd in front of the Trojans’ goal. Somehow, it found its way into the net, over the reach of Atlantic’s defenders and goalkeeper JT Baker, marking the game’s only score on a seemingly unstoppable ball.
“It hit just right, it was one of those things you can’t really defend against,” Atlantic coach Justin Williams said afterwards. “It was a lofted-up cross, and it landed just perfectly for them.”
Manderfield’s goal was the decisive factor in a physical match filled with pressure on both sides of the pitch.
Atlantic was slow to warm and was out-played for a good part of the first half before nerves started to subside and the Trojans starting playing their team game.
“You could tell the kids were anxious, and they were over-thinking everything,” coach Williams says of his team. “By about the 25th minute, we were in a better spot after we settled down.”
Scoreless at the break, Atlantic started taking the attack to DMC in the second half, though scoring chances weren’t completed as shots flew high and wide.
The misty rain that began to fall at the start of the match lifted in the second 40 minutes, but pitch proved soggy, and the physical style the Trojans brought began to take effect.
DMC displayed a capable first touch on the ball, but the Trojans collapsed on the passing lanes and played the body as the match grew tighter and tighter.
With 13:46 remaining, DMC midfielder Peprah Danquah was issued a yellow card after a hard foul on Atlantic’s Harrison Hoegh, and Danquah was sent to the bench for 10 minutes.
It appeared the Trojans’ might seize upon that hole in the lineup and start to build momentum. However, 29 seconds later, Manderfield’s goal struck from the outside, and Atlantic was left to chase to notch the equalizer.
The Trojans turned up the pressure in the final moments, but could not set up a quality scoring chance.
It proved a bitter pill to swallow for the first Trojans Soccer team to finish the regular season without a losing record. Atlantic finishes 7-8 overall with the playoff loss.
“It’s tough, because in my opinion, I don’t feel the better team won tonight,” coach Williams says. “It came down to one small mistake, but then again, not really. It was just a freak thing.”
“It’s heartbreaking to see these seniors go out like this.”
Atlantic sophomore Matt Smith tallied four shots and one on goal, and both Harrison Hoegh and Ryan Hawkins also put shots on net.
In net, Baker finished with 16 saves.
Des Moines Christian advances to face West Central Valley on Saturday in the Class 1A Substate 7 final.
Wednesday marks the end of the most successful Trojans Soccer season to date, an improvement from the 6-9 record from last year, and 5-12 mark in 2011.
Coach Williams says the foundation has been laid for the program to continue its upward trend.
“We have some guys coming back who I expect will take this seriously over the summer, and put in the time and make themselves better,” he said. “Some of these guys, you can tell soccer is their sport, and they will be up here playing soccer all summer long. They are making a decision to make us more competitive.”
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