By DENNIS HOUSE London Sentinel-Echo
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.