A dominant first half propelled Manhattan boys soccer to a 4-0 win over Wichita Northwest (3-9-1).
The Indians (3-9-1) featured four different goal scorers, all of which found the net before halftime.
“You know, all things considered, this win felt fantastic,” head coach Mike Sanchez said. “These guys, like I’ve said the last couple of games, have really been playing as a team. No individual play. They’re all playing for one another, buying in, not complaining about playing time, just doing what they need to do. That’s fantastic, and that’s exactly what we need, especially with such a young group.”
Manhattan and Wichita Northwest played even in the first 20 minutes, with neither team finding opportunities in the attacking.
It wasn’t until 17 minutes left in the first half that the Indians picked up their first goal. Mateo Sanchez aggressively pressed a Grizzlies defender, forcing a pass back to the goalkeeper. Sanchez intercepted this pass and dribbled around the goalkeeper for a goal in an empty net.
The freshman’s goal was the spark Manhattan needed, and the floodgates opened from there.
Eight minutes later, Giovanni Espinoza stole the ball from Wichita Northwest and found Jonah O’Donnell on a 2-on-1 break that led to another Indians goal.
Manhattan kept its intensity up with another score just one minute later.
Colby Taylor attempted a free-kick outside the box that bounced off the Grizzlies’ goalkeeper, but Espinoza was right there to clean up the mess and knock it in.
Manhattan forced another foul with five minutes to go in the first half at around the 45-yard line, but it wasn’t out of Taylor’s range. Taylor kicked it over the goalkeeper’s leaping hand and into the back of the net.
“Oh, that was great,” Sanchez said about Taylor’s goal. “Obviously, he had the shot that ricocheted off the goalie, and we followed up. Then we noticed how high the goalkeeper was playing out, and we said, ‘Go ahead, put it on frame.’ It was a fantastic goal, and I’m sure it was a great feeling for him.”
The Indians outshot the Grizzlies 10-5, whcih helped lead them to four first-half goals.
“They finished, which was the biggest thing,” Sanchez said. “They took advantage of their opportunities and stayed with it. There was a slotted ball across for a finish and a follow-up shot. On the first goal, I think the keeper missed, and we dribbled it in. They just kept playing hard the entire game, and that is all you can really ask your team to do.”
The second half was an even affair with neither team able to find the back of the net. The Indians played a more conservative second half after finding the net often in the first half.
Despite a struggling record, Manhattan has now won two out of its last three games, and Sanchez feels his team has improved drastically.
“They are buying in and playing the way we are asking them to play,” Sanchez said. “They’re not focusing on any individual, but being nothing but team players. They are playing for the person next to them and really focusing on their level of play and what they can do for one another.”
The Indians had their senior night on Tuesday and honored two seniors, Skylard Buffington and Ian Wassom.
“They’ve been fantastic,” Sanchez said. “They’ve provided great leadership and I know they’re good friends as well. They show up, they give their all, and they work hard, and that is all we can ask from them.”
Manhattan will hit the road for three games to conclude the regular season. They’ll be back in action on Thursday against Wichita-Trinity Academy (5-6-1).