Photo Credit: Kent Graham Images
It was an interesting evening at Hallmark Orthodontics Soccer complex on Tuesday where your Millers faced the Flashes of Franklin Central. Due to the forecast, the JV Black and Varsity games switched time slots so the Varsity match began around 6PM. The Millers started quickly out of the gate. Senior and Butler University commit Palmer Ault had a scoring chance a mere 15 seconds into the game. His shot hit the right post after a nice through ball from Jake Johns. From there the Millers dominated possession but were unable to find the back of the net until the 13th minute. Ault was sent in on a through ball by fellow senior and recent IUPUI commit Spencer Holland. Ault, unselfishly, slotted a ball across the penalty area to a streaking Brayden Doll who slotted a shot back near post against the movement of the Franklin Central goalkeeper.
The next Miller goal was scored in the 29th minute. Senior defender Andy Stansfield sent a perfectly lofted through ball over the FC back line that hit Spencer Holland in stride. Holland’s initial strike was saved by the goalkeeper but Holland was able to clean up his own rebound and bury his 2nd attempt low inside the left post. Your Millers went in to halftime up 2-0.
After a halftime speech from Coach Dollaske about increasing communication, your Millers came out in the 2nd half fired up. In the 48th minute, Ault found the back of the net again with a cheeky cross by Spencer Holland. A mere 1 minute later, the roles were reversed and Ault found Holland on a through ball that Holland was able to poke past the goalkeeper while also just barely avoiding hitting his head on the goal post. Holland was subbed off following his goal and Coach Dollaske could be heard telling Holland that, “he thought his hockey playing days were over” with that near collision with the woodwork.
In the 53rd minute, Doll was able to play a nicely weighted, curling through ball that sent Ault in behind the back line of FC. Ault was able to hit a great low, far post shot to tickle the twine. After some back and forth possession for an extended stretch in the match, the Millers were able to find the back of the net again in the 72nd minute. Senior Matthew Morris used his patented left-footed curling pass to find Sam Holland. Holland dribbled past an FC center back and hit a nice left-footed strike low to the far post. The final Miller scoring of the evening came off the foot of senior Jordan Hindes in the 78th minute. Sam Holland was able to send a nice through ball that Hindes was able to bury.
The Man of the Match was given to Junior Luke Smith. When asked about the game, Smith said that, “I feel like we really stepped it up after half time. After having a really slow half, we finally came out and decided to have fun and play soccer like we used to.”
The Millers are next on the pitch this coming Saturday with a double header against two Fort Wayne teams in Carroll (9AM) and Homestead (5:30PM). The senior class will be honored prior to the afternoon tilt with Homestead. Come on out and support your 13 senior athletes!