|
|
Junior
Logan Altic (11) works the ball against a Newton
defender Thursday. The Jets won the Cross
County Conference game 1-0 on
a shot by Daniel Wiseman with 1:57 left in the game. CNO
Photo by
George Starks
|
|
Drama
and heroics gets FM past Newton
By George Starks
PITSBURG- With 38:03 having elapsed off the second half clock, it was
looking as if a 0-0 tie was in the offing.
In a match that was played in a very physical manner by both Newton and
Franklin Monroe, it all changed with 1:57 left in the match.
Off an assist from sophomore striker Brian Robison, Daniel Wiseman
scored the only goal of the night, giving the Jets a 1-0 Cross County
Conference victory Thursday.
This game had it all," said FM coach Danny Dicaneu. "When we play
Newton it's going to be a fight. Last year, we were down at their place
and scored the final goal with about three minutes left. This year,
with about two minutes left, we scored the winning goal again. Good
teams find a way to win, even in ugly games. I would rather win ugly
than to lose pretty. This was a hard fought battle and that's what
Newton gives us."
It was a night when the game was won and lost at the goal line.
Franklin Monroe keeper, Grant Skelton, stopped everything that came his
way.
"Both keepers played outstanding games," Dicaneu said. "Their keeper
had a great game and he made one outstanding save. We had a shot that
hit the top of the post but that's the luck of the game sometimes. My
keeper was great tonight. Grant stopped everything that came his way.
This game was classic."
On a night when bodies were hitting the ground hard, some played
through their injuries.
Case in point; Junior mid-fielder Nick Shellabarger was kicked in the
left shoulder, leaving him with a deep bruise and unable to move his
left arm. Shellabarger played through the injury.
"This was a very rough game and we have a group of kids here that
played through the pain of the game," Dicaneu pointed out. "These kids
played hard and they didn't quit."
With teams like Newton and Bethel on the Jets conference schedule, the
Indians are one team that is at the top of the CCC every year, as is
the Bees.
"I think Newton may be stronger than Bethel and maybe I'm wrong about
that," said the Jets coach. "I think Newton is a little more physical
and has more numbers (players) than Bethel."
With a 0-0 half-time score, the Jets went to the locker-room and
Dicaneu locked the place down.
"A lot of people may have thought I tore into the kids," said Dicaneu
said. "I didn't. I basically told them they needed to hit the re-start
button. I changed things around a little. I put three mid-fielders out
there instead of four and put another forward upfront. Because of that,
we played most of the second half in their half of the field 65-70
percent of the time."
With three minutes remaining, it looked as if a tie was coming.
Something Dicaneu didn't want to see.
"A tie is like kissing your sister," Dicaneu stated. "I never want to
see a game end in a tie."
Franklin Monroe will be idle until next Thursday when it will host
Miami East.
|
|
|
|
