Miller helps Benet edge Metea Valley

Benet midfielder Hunter Miller needed a do-over.

With time winding down under three minutes left in a game against visiting Metea Valley, Miller was being given set piece after set piece to reverse 77 minutes of futility.

A free kick and a corner kick were errant, but Miller's corner in the last minute finally found a willing partner in Joey Chiariello.

Chiariello's late goal from 2 feet was the difference and Benet walked out an excited 1-0 winner.

“First one, I put the ball in a little low and it was an easy clean for them,” Miller said. “The next time around I noticed our guys were at the top of the box and their guys were following. There was a gap in the middle so I tried to send it in there. The wind took it inside a little, but it worked out and we got the goal.”

Chiariello watched the ball skip past him and hit another player. In a scramble of four players, the junior was able to kick in the ball in front of goal with just one minute remaining.

“Third time it's happened this year. Third time it's happened in the last minute,” Metea coach Josh Robinson said. “It's a lack of focus. Someone needs to be a senior and lead. We played great soccer today and it's the third time we've had nothing to show for it because we lost focus on corners. I think they relax when they should be more focused and it's unfortunate.”

Benet coach Sean Wesley thought the Mustangs (5-5-3) played the better game, keeping his Redwings (8-3-1) from being able to connect on through balls and limiting how much time dangerous players like Miller or Jake Goehring had the ball at their feet.

Thanks to a strong wind, Benet began peppering the ball on goal late, but Metea keeper Derek Carothers was up for the challenge.

Carothers recorded 8 big saves, including a punch save that led to Miller's final corner.

The Mustangs tried to find forward Ryan Solomon, but were limited to just 4 shots on goal, the best being a shot by sophomore Nate Donovan in the first half.

“Wet conditions made it tough for him to use his space,” Robinson said about Solomon. “We did a good job keeping possession, but they did a good job doubling up and keeping layers of guys back.”

With sectional seeding implications for the winner, Benet got the all-important game winner despite an average performance.

“Not one of our better games, but happy to get a win,” Wesley said.