Monticello — Lightning struck, literally and figuratively in Friday night's boys'

soccer match between South Laurel and Monticello in the Hyundai Challenge/PC

Cup at Somerset High School.

Literally, when just under the hour mark, officials spotted a bolt of

lightning, halting a game. Figuratively in the form of the South Laurel

Cardinals, who were holding a 7-0 lead when the skies darkened.

With play stopped, and a second delay on the way, Monticello (3-8)

decided to forego the remainder of the game, as the Cardinals (10-3) walked

away with the clean sheet over the Trojans.

"I'm pleased with the way we played," coach Harmon Hodge said. "I fussed

at them at the half, because they were being too selfish. We were making too

many passes in front of the goal instead of taking shots. You have to be

hungry for the goal."

Jeffrey Poston and Dustin Herron were definitely hungry, as Poston led

the way with three goals, while Herron added two more. Dylan Berry and

Tanner Chaney rounded out the Cardinal scoring.

Berry got South Laurel on the board first, in the 17th minute, when the

ball bounced to his feet, and he fired it past keeper Reyes Perez for a 1-0

lead. Two minutes later, Berry, who was pushing up from his normal sweeper

position, blasted a rocket that hit off Perez's hands, hit off the crossbar,

and back into the field of play, where Herron was waiting. His initial shot

was stopped, but the ball popped up in the air, and the alert Herron headed

it home to make it 2-0.

Berry was again involved in the third goal, as he chipped a free kick to

the far post, where Poston headed it in for a goal in the 28th minute. The

final South Laurel goal of the half came in the 39th minute, when Johnathan

McClure collected the ball, turned, and found Poston, who scored his second

goal of the match.

Poston and Herron would hook up on the fifth goal, in the 43rd minute,

when Herron's corner kick to the far post found Poston, and his hat trick

was complete. Herron would score in the 49th minute, then assist on Chaney's

goal in the 59th minute.