Canton’s electric post-season run stymied by first-year keeper
To say Canton’s boys soccer team peppered Monroe’s first-year goal-keeper Nathan Sanchez with net-seeking missiles during Tuesday’s Division 1 regional semifinal match would be an understatement.
The Cobras bombarded the rookie net-minder with on-frame rockets.
But Sanchez didn’t flinch, turning away shot after well-struck shot to lead the Trojans to an unexpected 2-1 triumph over the on-a-roll Cobras, who played in arguably the best division in the state before surviving one of the deepest district fields.
Now 13-7-2, the Trojans will face Saline in Friday’s regional title game at Dearborn Fordson.
(To check out video highlights from Tuesday’s match, click here.)
Entering the 2024 campaign without an established goalie after last year’s junior starter decided to forego his senior year, Sanchez volunteered for the between-the-pipes role despite never playing the position at the high school level.
Props to Sanchez
He played like a seasoned goal-tending veteran, turning back shots that appeared to be certain goals once they left the Canton’s attackers’ feet.
Monroe forward Jovanny Gallegos was pretty good, too. He accounted for both the winners’ goals: the first coming just 2 minutes and 30 seconds into the contest when he punched in a shot from the doorstep.
Undeterred, Canton deadlocked the game at 1-1 2:48 before halftime when Bruno Delgado scored one of the most scintillating goals of the fall.
Delgado settled a through pass from Siddh Patil, and deftly deked a pair of Monroe defenders before launching a left-footed laser that singed the top-left corner of the net — a shot so well-placed not even Sanchez could lay his hands on.
(Watch Delgado’s slick goal by clicking here.)
PK proves to be TKO for Cobras
The game’s sharpest dagger was delivered 76 seconds before halftime when a Canton foul in the penalty box led to a successful penalty kick by Gallegos.
Canton ramped up its offensive pressure big-time during the final 40 minutes, but couldn’t solve Sanchez, whose most-impressive stop was on a Delgado break-away with 33:25 left in the game.
After the final seconds ticked off the scoreboard, Canton players dropped to the Dearborn Fordson turf in anguish as the Trojans celebrated a victory that not many people saw coming.
Ed Wright can be contacted at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.