By Jim Misunas

jmisunas@gbtribune.com

When Great Bend’s Dani Franco scores, the Panthers’ soccer team reaches a high level.

Great Bend’s all-time leading scorer Franco scored a trio of goals to spark the Panthers past Hays Thomas More Prep 5-2 Tuesday at Cavanaugh Field.

Oscar Martinez fed perfect passes for two Franco’s goals and Salvador Garcia also assisted.

The Panthers (4-7) converted a pair of corner kicks into goals and scored a season high five goals. The game started in 90-degree heat with the south wind gusting past 25 mph.

“When Dani is scoring goals, it gives us a lot of other opportunities to stay aggressive,” “said Great Bend coach Jesus Loera. “He’s a big piece of our offense.” 

The wide-open offensive style by both teams made for action moving up-and-down the field. The Monarchs (6-4) responded with a quick-strike offense that converted off transition and on a corner kick.

The Monarchs’ Ryan Karlin scored off a header on Ethan Brummer’s perfect corner kick at the 36:17 mark in the first half.

The Panthers scored after Chiny Sanchez, Franco and Humberto Alonzo missed on quality shots.

Franco converted Oscar Martinez’s perfect pass for a tying goal at the 18:44 mark in the first half for a 1-1 halftime tie.

A wild second half featured five goals. Chiny Sanchez blasted the Panthers’ second goal past the Monarch goalie at the 38:29 mark. Monarch Ethan Lang tied the score 2-2 on a breakaway at the 34:45 mark.

The Panthers’ Humberto Alonzo scored at the 27:32 mark. Two corner kicks closed out the scoring. Martinez’s perfect corner kick was converted by Franco at the 26:41 mark. Noe Torres fed Franco with another pin-point corner kick at the 10:07 mark for a 5-2 edge.

“Our attacking and creativity was better and we took advantage of our opportunities,” Loera said. “We’ve worked on being more creative. We played aggressive and it paid off. “We got better quality shots that challenged the goalie. Leading up to this game, we’ve lacked creativity in situations where we can score. We’ve made it easy to mark us defense.”

The Panthers return home Thursday to play Western Athletic Conference rival Garden City.

5A SOCCER RECORDS

1—Andover Central 10-0-1

2—Salina Central 9-2

2—Maize South 9-2

4—Goddard-Eisenhower 9-3

5—Wichita Carroll 8-3

6—McPherson 8-4

7—Wichita Heights 5-3-1

8—Salina South 6-6

8—Valley Center 6-6

10—Wichita Kapaun Mt. Carmel 5-6

11—Wichita Northwest 5-7

12—Andover High 4-7

12—Great Bend 4-7

14—Hays 4-9

15—Maize 3-7

16—Arkansas City 3-8

16—Newton 3-8

18—Goddard 2-9