Head coach Corey Yates has got to be tired of seeing Andrew Minnis this season. That probably goes likewise with the rest of his Elizabethtown Panthers as his team fought hard against John Hardin, but for the second time in seven days the sophomore forward produced a “Hat Trick” as Minnis scored late in the first half to tie the score after the Panthers took a 1-0 lead, then late in the second half to again knot it up at 2 after Elizabethtown retook the lead on a penalty kick and finally in the first overtime period as time was running out to win the game. 3-2.
It was just last week, when Minnis scored three goals against those same Panthers in a 4-2 win (It was his third triple-goal game in his last four games) and like last Tuesday this time around, Elizabethtown didn’t go down easy as they scored first and never let up until the final gun. It took the talents of the sophomore to decide the game. Minnis, who has 27-goals already this season has shouldered the scoring load with the graduation of star scorer Christian Bonifield from last season, but with the game on the line in the first overtime period and time running out with his former teammate watching from the sidelines, Minnis drove towards the left side of the goal and fired the game winner with just 00:19 remaining to give the Bulldogs their second win over Elizabethtown.
The Panthers, who have been a strong defensive team all season have been tough luck losers in one goal decisions against North Hardin, Central Hardin and John Hardin and have squeezed out a shootout decision against those same Bruins. They still have a game against North Hardin in October; meanwhile John Hardin will face a deluge of 17th District foes in succession with Fort Knox, Central Hardin twice in five days and an all important second game against North Hardin which might decide the top seed in the 17th District Tournament.
