​Miguel, Neri-Hernandez power Eagles in come-from-behind 3-2 win over Jags

by Michael Smith, Grain Valley News
  
 
After a 1-0 win in the season opener against Harrisonville, the Grain Valley boys soccer team hit a tough patch.
 
The Eagles lost three consecutive games, including two close losses to Belton 3-2 last week and to Fort Osage 5-4 after losing a shootout.
 
They needed a pick-me-up in Thursday’s game against Blue Springs South.
 
Grain Valley got it from sophomore Xavi Neri-Hernandez, who made the game-tying goal and senior Alvi Miguel who made the game winner as the Eagles edged the Jaguars 3-2 on the road.
 
“I think this was important for us to get this one coming off two back breaking losses to Fort Osage and Belton,” Grain Valley head coach Brett Lewis said. “We needed this for confidence.”
 
As the game was winding down, Neri-Hernandez came up big. South (3-2-1) had a 2-1 lead going into the final 10 minutes of the contest. Grain Valley was noticeably more aggressive and controlled possession after a clear attempt from the Eagles defense went right to South junior Michael Todd, who drilled a shot into the upper 90 and over the reach of goalkeeper Luke Crawford.
 
That change in play led to the sophomore’s goal as he got a long pass from senior Coehan Hackworth deep inside the penalty box and Neri-Hernandez snuck a shot inside the far post to tie it at 2 in the 72nd minute.
 
“It was really unexpected,” Neri-Hernandez said. “It could have gone to the keeper but he didn’t come out to get it. I made the best shot I could when he was still back.”
 
The sophomore has come on as of late for the Eagles (2-3) and has noticeably made an impact on the field in recent games and that could earn him a starting spot in the future as he’s mainly been used off the bench through five games.
 
“He keeps putting himself into great positions over and over again,” Lewis said of Neri-Hernandez. “He’s been playing well in practice and been playing well in games. He’s going to keep earning more minutes playing like this.”
 
That goal helped force overtime and the Eagles continued to control possession in the period. With 3 minutes and 7 seconds left junior Carter Cygan sent a through ball to Miguel, who powered his way past South goalkeeper Tyler Aiden. His run was initially blocked but he knocked the ball off the keeper, got behind him and punched the ball into an empty net for the win.
 
“Honestly, that was unexpected,” Miguel said of his goal. “Carter sent a nice through ball. I wasn’t expecting the pass. I am glad I was able to score and go home. It has been a long day.”
 
Miguel is someone Lewis anticipates other teams will have to game plan for as he’s a skilled striker for the Eagles. He is someone who is quick with the ball on his foot and consistently gets by defenders.
 
“He created a lot for us,” Lewis said of Miguel. “He’s good at turning players when players are on his back. He’s quick and crafty. Teams are going to know how special he is as the season goes on.”
 
While Neri-Hernandez and Miguel scored the two most important goals, Hackworth got the Eagles' scoring started. He chased down a pass over the top of the South defense, hit a header past Aiden, chased the ball down and punched a shot into an empty net to put the Eagles up 1-0.
 
South battled back from there and dominated possession for the rest of the first half. With 6:04 left, junior Danny Hamchaoui sent a cross in front of the goal line and perfectly timed rim from  junior Jonas Rosbrugh resulted in a tap-in goal for the equalizer.
 
The Jags continued their run early in the second half that eventually led to Todd’s goal. But after were unable to generate many more chances after that score.
 
“We have skill on the team, but we haven’t figured out how we work together yet,” said South head coach Todd Findley, who returns four starters from last year’s 14-7-1 team. “It’s a struggle now. We are trying to figure out who we are.”
 

Grain Valley sophomore Xavier Neri-Hernandez, left, scored the game-tying goal late in the second half and senior Alvi Miguel scored the game winner in overtime as the boys soccer team defeated Blue Springs South Thursday on the road. Photo credit: Michael Smith