Boys soccer picks up momentum with win against Wichita South

Kris Long, Opinions Editor

Manhattan boys Varsity soccer have a three-game winning streak under their belts after beating Wichita South 7-1 on Oct. 14. 

According to senior Hunter French, the team was confident going into the match after their win against Topeka High. This was amplified as Wichita South has won only two of their 11 matches going into the game.

Due to junior Danny Tumara receiving a red card against Topeka last Thursday, the team had to change their line-up against Wichita. They also had the opportunity to put junior Lucas Smith-Caulsas back into the line-up after his injuring his arm over Labor day. Smith-Cauldas was a potential starter for left back at the beginning of the season and will be integrated back into the team in coming matches.

“It’s good to get Lucas some minutes back there,” head coach Mike Sanchez said. “[But] we’ll go back to what [line-up] was working for us [previously for next game]. 

It took MHS awhile to get off the ground despite dominating possession, but French finally put their first goal in 18 minutes into the game. 

“I think our attitude needs to be better right from the start,” French said. “We were a little slow at the start, but we [figured] it out.”

French completed his hat trick five minutes before the half, making the first goal with an assist from senior Carter Wiens and the second from junior Connor Turner. MHS was 3-0 up at the half. 

Manhattan kept up the pace going into the second half, with French scoring yet again five minutes into the half, then again a minute later. Putting MHS up 5-0 single-handedly is a record for French.

Sanchez pulled French off towards the end of the game, giving juniors Josh Lee and Micheal Ohler a chance to score.

“I think we know [French] can finish,” Sanchez said. “We just have to get others like … Gabe [Effiong] putting the ball in the back of the net.”

It was 7-0 with just seconds left and Manhattan had pulled off their starters to give their bench some playing time when Wichita came down the middle, went one-on-one with the goalie and scored, ending the match 7-1.

“We were cheating a little bit [towards the end of the match],” Sanchez said. “[We got] a little bit too high and weren’t  ready … to drop back defensively.”

Overall, Manhattan’s performance has greatly improved since the beginning of the season.

“I think the team communicated [more],” Lee said. “We possesed, we won the 50-50 balls and we finished.”

Manhattan has four more games to prepare for the post season and think they will be ready for it based on the improvement they’re seen so far.

“Overall I think we’re looking to be a lot more dangerous than the final third,” Sanchez said. “We’re doing a really good job of being creative in the final third especially … as [French] and [Wiens are] up there doing a lot. Connor is also playing some pretty looking soccer with his little one-twos … it’s good to see.”

Manhattan will play Wichita Northwest Oct. 15 at home.