MIDDLETOWN — A well-played second half could not make up for Middletown”s lackluster start on Tuesday as the Mustangs dropped a 5-1 decision to Hanna Center of Sonoma in a non-league varsity boys” soccer match played in Middletown.
“I don”t know what happened to them,” Middletown coach Chuck Rannells said of the Mustangs” second-half performance. “It was like someone threw a light switch, I just don”t know who.”
Whatever circuit got connected during the Mustangs” halftime pep talk, the lights certainly came on for Middletown as they roared out onto the field and got down to playing some soccer.
“I don”t know what the outcome would have been if they (Middletown) had played like this (the entire match),” Hanna coach Travis Curtis said. “They stepped it up and played well.”
Starting the second half down 5-1, the Mustangs were able to keep the ball on Hanna”s side of the field for more than half the period thanks in part to a stepped-up performance by both the Middletown midfield and defense, which was able to knock down many of the through balls that stymied the Mustangs during the first half. Despite the improvements and multiple opportunities, the Mustangs were unable to add to the scoreboard.
Hanna”s first score of the match came in the sixth minute of play when Roderick Williams capitalized on a long goal kick and an out-of-position keeper to nail the Mustang net straight on. This was preceded by a hard drive up the pitch by the Mustangs in the opening minutes of the match, a play on which Middletown”s top forward, Mario Monroy, landed wrong and ended his day.
Williams would earn a hat trick during the game when he added scores in the 22nd minute on a crossing shot into the far corner and again in the closing minutes of the half when he took advantage of a high bounce that was missed by keeper Dustin Rudiger. Williams tapped the ball into the net as it came down.
“They were taking advantage of our mistakes and scoring,” Rannells said of the Hanna team.
Hanna (4-0) scored twice more in the half on short crossing shots by Ernesto Mejia in the 10th minute and Misael Ortega in the 29th minute, both goals coming off misplayed goal kicks by the Mustangs.
Middletown”s lone goal of the match came in the 35th minute of play when a corner opportunity by the Mustangs was short-circuited by a handball call in the box called against Hanna. Middletown”s Cody Astley was able to blast the penalty kick past Hanna keeper Robby Kennedy in the top far corner of the frame for the score.
Middletown (1-2) returns to action next Tuesday in Upper Lake.
