Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

It took some lightning to light a fire in the St. Joseph Flyers.

Down 2-0, the Flyers battled back in the second half after a lightening delay to tie the Portsmouth West Senators 2-2 Thursday in a soccer game.

“We started out a little sluggish and flat, but after the lightning delay ended, we fought back really hard sparked by Joseph Payton’s first goal,” said Flyer’s coach Mike Arrington.

“We had more than a few shots on goal in the closing minutes that would have won the game, but West’s goalie made some really good saves including one on our corner kick in the final 10 seconds.”

The game was delayed in the middle of the second half by lightning with West leading 2-0. Shortly after play resumed, Payton scored the Flyers’ first goal on a well-placed cross from Dylan Arrington.

Payton tied the game in the closing minutes with his second goal by getting a nearly identical cross from Jacob Clark.

“We have a really young team this year with more than half of them being freshmen and only two seniors. We also lost a very talented junior in Cole Willis to an injury,” said coach Arrington.

“But they are very eager to learn and have impressed me with their dedication.”

The Flyers host New Boston at 6 p.m. Tuesday.