Tanner collects game-winning goal

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on October 5, 2011 1:49 PM

• Print
• Email

All victories carry with them varying levels of momentum.

Wayne Country Day's thrilling, 4-3 comeback win over visiting Faith Christian-Rocky Mount on Tuesday afternoon could prove to be a season changer.

The Chargers trailed 2-0 at the half and faced a 3-2 deficit in the second half before Hil Tanner scored the game-winning goal in the 77th minute.

Nick Craft's shot in the 21st minute was saved by Wayne Country Day keeper Zach Brewer-Kirby. Jack Langston's shot in the 24th minute was turned away by Patriots' goalie Cody Manning.

Harrison Mosley's goal in the 31st minute off a throw-in gave Faith Christian a 1-0 lead. Four minutes later, Dustin Hendricks' shot beat Brewer-Kirby as the lead grew to 2-0.

Miller Gerard was tackled by Manning inside the 18-yard box in the 44th minute. Tanner's penalty kick pulled Wayne Country Day to within 2-1.

"At halftime coach was talking about we've been quitting after giving up a goal," said Tanner. "We've been working on not giving up. That penalty kick gave us momentum. It gave us a spark."

Gerard scored on a rebound off Cody Neal's free kick in the 45th minute to tie the game at 2-2.

Play became physical as the two teams combined to draw four yellow cards in the second half.

Seth Fisher won a loose ball from a sprawling Brewer-Kirby in the 66th minute and scored to put the Patriots in front 3-2. Douglas Williams collected a rebound off Tanner's shot on a corner kick and scored in the 73rd minute to tie the game at 3-3.

The Chargers survived the Patriots' corner kick opportunity in the 76th minute before Tanner scored the game winner off Cody Neal's throw-in in the 77th minute.

"I got the ball at the corner of the 18 and at halftime coach (Summers) was talking about looking for a window," said Tanner. "I heard him saying, 'find your window,' so I took a touch and saw an opening. It took a lucky bounce of a defender's head and just went in. I've never felt like that in my life."

The victory was Wayne Country Day's third in its last four games. The Chargers (7-4-3 overall) visit rival Greenfield on Thursday.

"We talked about it at halftime that they had to believe they were going to win this game," said Wayne Country Day head coach Scott Summers. "I think this is a great momentum booster. This is the way we should have played throughout the whole season. I think the boys are starting to figure it out now."