Freshman Skylah Dias (2018)

Greg Sullivan Herald News Staff Reporter Posted Sep. 30, 2014 @ 12:04 am Updated Sep 30, 2014 at 12:17 AM FALL RIVER — For Case, this draw may have been as sweet as its only win. Freshman Skylah Dias set up Sam Horowitz for two goals as the Cardinals forged a most satisfying 2-2 tie with once-beaten Diman Regional in their non-league boys’ soccer match on Monday afternoon at Diman’s Harrington Athletics Complex. Case is 1-7-1, Diman 5-1-1. “This is like a championship for us,” Case coach Steve Manteiga said. “It’s a young team. I have seven freshmen on this team. We lost 12 seniors last year. It’s like a rebuilding stage for the team. “I’ve got four freshmen starting, playing almost the entire game throughout the whole season. And it’s tough because size-wise they’ve been taking a little bit of a beating. But they step up to the challenge.” Case led 1-0 and trailed 2-1. Horowitz’s second goal tied the game in the 54th minute and the Cardinals held the Bengals without a notable scoring bid the rest of the way. Kyle Hilario scored both Diman goals, on penalty kicks. “I’ve heard Diman was definitely one of the most talented teams in the Mayflower division. I just wanted to come out and compete the best we could, try to make a game of it,” Manteiga said. “To come out with a tie game is like a W to us.” In stark contrast to Case’s post-game huddle, Diman’s did not include any high fives, fist bumps or back slaps. The team whose only loss was to Durfee got an extended lecture from coach John Chicharro. “Not a happy camper,” Chicharro said. “The team started flat, remained flat throughout, and we only showed a little spark there toward the latter minutes of the second half. Just never put it together. I think we underestimated our opponent. “Not to take anything away from Case. I thought that they did what they had to do, and that is to put a little pressure on us and keep an up beat. And I thought that they surprised us a little bit.” Dias’ first assist was brilliant. He launched a quick attack at a retreating defense, beat a defender and perfectly touched a through-ball, giving Horowitz a break-in from the left center. Horowitz knocked a low shot past starting Diman keeper Dylan Barreira. Both Diman penalty kicks were the results of trips in the box. Hilario struck at 38 minutes and 48 minutes, taking Diman to a 2-1 lead. http://www.heraldnews.com/article/20140930/SPORTS/140939939/2001/SPORTS