Fairmont’s Ricky Morales looks to get the ball past the Wings United goalkeeper during a Big South Conference boys soccer game on Thursday. Morales scored the game-winning goal on a free kick with 10 seconds to play in the game.

FAIRMONT – A free kick by Ricky Morales with 10 seconds left to go gave the Fairmont Cardinals a 4-3 victory in a Big South Conference game against Wings United.

The game started off rocky for the Cardinals. They had several shots on goal in the first half, but could not capitalize on any of the opportunities. Wings United took advantage early with goals at the six and 22-minute marks. With the Cardinals down 2-0 entering halftime, Head Coach Brady Meyer said he reminded his team they had every chance to succeed.

“We were definitely in that game in the first half,” he said. “We had plenty of scoring opportunities. We just couldn’t find the back of the net. We kept on saying we got to keep playing. I had them change a few things to help better our odds.”

With the halftime pep talk in mind, the Cardinals came out like bottle rockets in the second half. Three minutes in, Angel Sanchez used his powerful leg to strike the back of the net. Right away, the Cardinals were back near the net. Taking advantage of an opportunistic goalkeeper, Nathan Paris juked him out and took advantage of the open net to make it 2-2.

The Wings weren’t resigned though, and at minute 55 they found the advantage and scored to make it 3-2. Another 20 minutes ticked by, and the Cardinals looked to be running out of options. With five minutes left, it was Sanchez again who clutched up and drilled it home to tie the game.

While the game was tied up, both teams were looking to seal the deal in regular time. With 30 seconds left, the Cardinals drove up the field. Ricky Morales Herrera was fouled while setting up a shot, and he was awarded a free kick. The clock stopped at 10 seconds, Morales Herrera took his shot, and sailed it into the back of the net for the dagger.

Before he took the shot, Morales Herrera said he could feel he was going to make the shot.

“My family, my girlfriend, my dad, grandpa, everyone was supporting me at my back, my teammates,” he said. “I feel I was gonna make that.”

With a win like this, Meyer said he felt it could definitely propel them moving forward.

“Next two weeks here we have several games to finish out the season,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of time to practice or fix things. Right now, after a close win like this, that energy will definitely help carry us into next week.”

To see the Cardinals come back by scoring four goals in the second half is something Meyer said means everything.

“Watching these guys work together as a team, supporting each other, working hard for each other, that’s our whole model this season,” he said. “It’s great when they do that and execute it.”

The Fairmont Cardinals (3-6) have their next game Monday, Sept 22 against Worthington at the Jeffrey Kot Fields.