CORINTH, Maine — Manu Sanchez’s role on the undefeated Washington Academy boys soccer team may not feature the flash of some of the other Raiders.
But anticipating his teammates’ forays into the offensive end and maneuvering to receive a pass in scoring position isn’t a bad gig, either.
The WA senior scored four goals Saturday as the reigning Class C state champions extended their winning streak to 34 matches with a 9-1 regional semifinal victory over second-seeded Central.
“The key is just looking for space,” said Sanchez, one of three starters back from last year’s team. “They were playing a flat four on defense so I had to look for the space and look for the pass behind the defense and then be faster than them.”
The win, in a rematch of the 2015 Class C North final, will enable the third-ranked Raiders to host Wednesday’s regional championship match in East Machias against No. 9 George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill.
“They are starting to realize what territory they’re in as far as getting back to that (state) game and the winning streak they have, but they take nothing for granted,” said WA coach Chris Gardner, whose 16-0 Raiders have outscored their opponents 142-10 this fall. “You saw a team that came out today playing like they were two goals down the whole game.
“We’ve just got to try to stay at this level and finish this out because there are a lot of great teams between us and where want to get to. We’ve got to stay at our top level the whole way.”
Senior Oneko Lowe, a member of Bermuda’s U21 national team, was a primary playmaker against a Central program that had handed WA its last defeat in a 2014 semifinal and was seeking its third straight trip to the regional championship match.
Lowe had two goals and two assists, and his footwork was instrumental in creating openings for Sanchez and classmate Manzi Yves (two goals) to finish plays.
“When Oneko has the ball, Manzi’s job and my job is to be in the right place at the right moment,” said Sanchez, who also scored four goals earlier this season against Sumner of East Sullivan.
Lowe was sent ahead on a pass from midfield by William Davidson and scored from a sharp angle deep along the left wing to give WA a 1-0 lead 7:23 into the match.
Sanchez scored the first of his three first-half goals 90 seconds later, converting from the middle of the crease after some set-up work in the left corner by Yves and Davidson Kogoya.
The Raiders built the lead to 6-0 by intermission as Sanchez scored two more goals and Lowe and Yves added one apiece.
Central (14-2) was not without offensive opportunities with seniors Andrew Speed and Caleb Shaw pressing the attack, but the Red Devils were unable to break through until Yosef Worster made a successful run down the left wing to make it 6-1 eight minutes into the second half.
Lowe countered with 19:02 left before sophomore Khiari Hayward and Sanchez capped off the scoring.
“They’re very skilled all the way through the field from front to back,” said Central coach Paul Speed, whose team had its 12-match winning streak ended. “You’ve got to try to contain them in the field but they’re so quick that if you make one misstep they’re going to beat you going to the goal.
“And usually it goes in when they do that.”
