Boys soccer won 3-2 in an away game against Emporia on Thursday.

The line up was slightly different than usual due to some injuries and illness. Brendan Mummert, junior, was moved from his usual position of center back to left back. Senior Manny Effiong, who normally plays forward, was not able to attend on Thursday and senior Trace Dillion, normally Varsity left back, was injured in the Washburn Rural game last week. Senior Nicolas Fink, who plays defender, was unable to attend because of illness. Senior Parker Holborn, forward, who was injured on Sept. 18 in the game against Seaman, played a few minutes despite a broken wrist.

Even with the unusual line up the game started off well with a goal from junior Hunter French. He got the ball out wide from an assist by senior Mitch Hutchinson, Varsity captain and starting forward, and beat a defender, then slotted it in the back of the net. Emporia quickly equalized about 10 minutes later. Mummert went too to far upfield leaving a space for the Emporia forward to sneak through the MHS defensive line and score.

Just seconds after Manhattan had taken the lead Emporia scored again. They passed the ball up field and then back into midfield drawing the defense to far up field and again creating a space for the Emporia forward to break through the Manhattan defense and score, tying it again at 2-2.

Emporia had another good chance just before the half to take the lead but it was denied by Varsity goalie Caleb DeLoach. One of the Emporia’s players got behind the Manhattan defense and was one on one with DeLoach. DeLoach came off his line quickly and closed the space for the Emporia player to shoot and saved the shot with his leg preventing Emporia from taking the lead.

“The first half we dominated, even though the score may not show it,” assistant Varsity coach Pedro Espinoza said. “We had possession of the ball at least 70 percent of the time.”

The time on the clock diminished as the second half continued. Five minutes there was still no goal, three minutes until the end and no goal, just one minute to the whistle and each team putting in the last of their effort to score the deciding point.

Finally, 14 seconds before the end Max Lansdowne, senior and starting forward, received a pass on the right from Roberto Maysonet Perez, junior starting forward. Lansdowne dribbled around an Emporia defender and took a shot over the keeper and into the top right corner, a goal to win the game.

“I think we played decently,” Lansdowne, starting forward, said. “In the first half the offense played fairly well and the defense fell off, and in the second half the roles reversed…overall I think it was a good performance against a great team.”

Manhattan plays their next game against Hayden High at home tonight at 6:15 p.m. and they take on Topeka High on Thursday at 6:15 p.m. at Hummer Sports Park.