By Chris Laclair
Sports Editor
CLAREMONT, NH — Stevens Head Coach Jason Stone was not overlooking the 3-win Manchester West team who had been circled as an automatic win in past years on senior night. He’d previously seen them play Monadnock and knew what was in store.
“This may be the best 3-win team in the state, they are no joke,” said Stone before the game.”
Manchester West’s striker Japhari Ramadhani and several other international players are new to the roster this year and are bringing new life.
According to Manchester West Head Coach Fernando Martinez, “almost half of the team are international players.”
Ramadhani scored twice to spoil senior night for the Cardinals who dominated ball control and scoring opportunities but fell short in this one 2-1. He found the back of the net in the first half as he cut lateral for a hard strike that sailed past Steven goaltender Nevin Marsh. He would score the game winner on a direct kick from 25 yards in the second half. His shot from the left side of the pitch was too perfect; Marsh stopped as it found the top right corner of the net at the 15 minutes remaining mark.
“Our striker Japhari Ramadhani is an international player who I am so lucky to have on our team,” Martinez said.
The sophomore connection consisting of Josh Howe and Davin Boehle did what they could to keep Stevens in the game. Howe threw a perfect throw to Boehle, who put the ball past the outstretched goalie for his first career high school goal to tie the game in the second half with 24 minutes left.
Stevens had several other opportunities to score but it wasn’t in the cards.
In a game where they controlled more than 70 percent of the possessions, they couldn’t get the ball in the net outside of the one goal scored. Pat Prive had his penalty kick stopped in a momentum shifting save. Logan Minckler would send a direct kick from 35 yards out that barely missed as it dropped on top of the crossbar on its way out of bounds.
It was a tough loss for Stevens senior captain Luke Belisle who left everything he had on the field.
“It’s crazy that it was my last home game at Monadnock Park where it has felt like home for the past four years,” Belisle said. “It definitely wasn’t the way I wanted to say goodbye.”
Martinez, though, was very impressed with Belisle.
“That number 5 for the Stevens team, he has very impressive skills,” he said.
Stevens’ coach had a hard time walking into a postgame locker room.
“It’s so hard to say anything to the boys after that game as they don’t want to hear about how well they played,” said Stevens Head Coach Jason Stone. “I’m so proud of them for continuing to stay locked in and continuing to get better every practice and every game. I feel like that was the best we played all year. I’m pretty sure we have at least 75 percent of the possessions. Hopefully if we do that again on Thursday, we will be rewarded with the win. I’m excited about the playoffs if we continue at this level.”
More Inside Cardinals Earn Top Four Seed With 3-3 Tie on Page B6. MORE ONLINE For more senior night photos visit www.eagletimes.com
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