NORTH MANCHESTER – The Manchester High School girls soccer team took a lot more shots than the visiting Whitko Lady Wildcats, but ended up with the same number of goals. Outshooting Whitko 17-5, the Manchester Lady Squires (3-4-3) got nine on goal, but made just one in a 1-1 draw with the Lady Wildcats (2-4-2) Thursday at North Manchester's Good Fields. “We were really dead in the first half, which is really frustrating,” Manchester coach Jacqui Erny said. “The second half was a little better, but we were still slow to shoot and slow to pass.” With the teams deadlocked in a scoreless tie, Whitko junior Ellyanna Blue tracked down a pass from senior Sydney Sims and sprinted past the Lady Squires’ defense for a goal in the first minute of the second half. The goal was her team-high ninth of the season, and she's become Gary Sims’ most dangerous offensive threat. "She's developed more speed," Sims said about Blue. "She ran track for me last year, simply to work on the speed. It's helped out and she has a good left foot. It's surprising to come across a lefty like that, and she can put it on (goal)." The goal stood up for about eight minutes until Manchester junior Mariah Mobley lobbed in a shot directly between midfield and the goal. The lob sailed just over the head of Whitko junior goalkeeper Jordan Hall, who was making her first-ever start in the goal. “I encourage her strongly to do that,” Erny said about Mobley's long shot. “She has the leg to do it. Anything within 20 yards of the 18, she can hit it. That's exactly what I want her to do.” After giving up the tough-to-defend goal, Hall redeemed herself with 6:30 remaining, when she denied Manchester junior Emily Haecker of a score from directly in front of the goal. “That was the save of her career, which has been two games,” Sims said about Hall, who had eight saves and got her first action in goal last Wednesday against Wawasee when Chloe Nestel suffered a knee injury. Manchester junior goalkeeper Kiersten Staley is also pretty inexperienced, but also came up big. With under a minute to play, she got her hands up in time to save a shot off the foot of Blue, which was destined for the back of the net. “This is her first year of playing soccer and you can't tell,” Erny said. “She's an amazing keeper. She just has that natural gift. She's really quick to react. She definitely has saved us a few times.” That save preserved the draw, which is something Sims wasn't too disappointed in. “We knew it was going to be tough,” he said. “Manchester's always a good team. I'm happy with the turnout. This is good.” Whitko hosts North Miami Saturday, while Manchester’s next contest is Monday at Rochester.
MANCHESTER 1, WHITKO 1 W – Ellyanna Blue (Sydney Sims) 41st min. M – Mariah Mobley 49th min. Shots – Manchester 17, Whitko 5; Shots on Goal – Manchester 9, Whitko 4; Saves – Manchester (Kiersten Staley) 3, Whitko (Jordan Hall) 8; Fouls – Manchester 14, Whitko 7; Offsides – Manchester 1, Whitko 0; Corner Kicks – Manchester 10, Whitko 4 Records: Manchester 3-4-3, Whitko 2-4-2
