By JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
GARDEN CITY — Great Bend’s Danny Frano scored two goals and Erick Martinez added an assist and an amazing goal in the Panthers’ 3-0 shutout of Garden City in Tuesday’s Western Athletic Conference soccer match.
No. 8 ranked Class 5A Great Bend (6-3-1, 3-2 WAC) won the showdown for third place in the league. The Panthers will play at home Oct. 4 against Hays-Thomas More Prep. Garden City (5-3, 1-3) entertains No. 1 ranked Class 6A Dodge City (8-0, 4-0 WAC) Thursday.
“We were able to possess the ball better and that paid off really well,” said Great Bend coach Jesus Loera. “We’ve worked on technique where the guys put themselves in a spot to receive the ball. I was extremly pleased with how we execute. We want to continue to build as players and a team.”
Martinez took a pass from teammate Junior Franco and Martinez headed the ball to Danny Franco who scored against Garden City goalie Kender Acevedo in the 28th minute.
Martinez used his quickness and skill for a 2-0 lead in the 35th minute. Martinez accepted a pass 25 yards out, and while running to the right, kicked the ball over the defender on his rear and backwards, with the ball rolling into the goal as Acevedo tried to protect the right side of the net.
Danny Franco scored on a rebound shot in the 60th minute.
Panther goalie Daniel Cerventes stopped five shots. Right centerback Josh Rodriguez helped anchor the defense with Junior Franco and Anthony Brown.
“We continue to work for better ideas to make our team better,” Loera said. “We switched spots for Joshua Rodriguez and he played really well.”
PANTHERS 3, BUFFALOES 0
Great Bend 2 1 — 3
Garden City 0 0 — 0
GB—Danny Franco, assist Erick Martinez, 28:00; GB—Martinez, 35:00; GB—Danny Franco, 60:00
Shots—GB 9, GC 11. Corner kicks—GB 4, GC 3. Saves—Daniel Cervantes 5, GB; Kender Acevedo 3, GC. Yellow card—Martinez, GB
WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Dodge City 4-0 9-0
Liberal 2-1 4-4
Great Bend 3-2 6-3-1
Garden City 1-3 5-3
Hays High 0-4 4-5
Tuesday’s games
Great Bend 3, Garden City 0
Dodge City 6, Hutchinson 0
Hays 5, Junction City 3
