Beyond his three-goal performance, there was even more evidence that Miller Hayden was feeling it Tuesday night for Sacred Heart.
“He [Hayden] had to change shoes at halftime, because he ripped his shoe in half,” Crusader head coach Joe Falla Jr. said. “That’s just how good he was. He played out of his shoes, I guess.”
Led by Hayden’s hat trick, the Crusaders defeated the visiting Clarkdale Bulldogs, 3-0, in their rainy, Class 1A/2A/3A playoff opener.
“Fantastic result. We knew with the weather conditions that the playing field would be equal,” Falla said. “It just leveled everything out. Like I told my guys, we just had to be mentally tough and concentrate on details. And that’s exactly what won the game tonight.”
It took Falla’s Crusaders less than a minute to strike first in Tuesday’s match. Sprinting down the field almost unopposed, Hayden found the back of the net for the first of his three goals.
According to the freshman, the match’s 45 minute delayed start due to late arriving Clarkdale messed up Sacred Heart’s groove a little bit. But as his quick score indicated, it didn’t take too long for the Crusaders to get that groove back.
“We tried especially hard to start strong and how we normally would,” Hayden said. “It worked out well, because we scored in the first minute.”
Twenty minutes later, Hayden tallied his second goal of the game. He would add his third and final 10 minutes into Tuesday’s second half.
“He [Hayden] brings just a different level to the game simply with his skill level and soccer IQ,” Falla said. “Adding him to the mix with other players like [Heath] Flathau and [Bennett] Gibson, players that also know the games, it becomes a triple threat, really. They read each other and know what each other’s thinking. That’s part of why we’re so dangerous.”
Sacred Heart improved to 10-5-2 with the win, advancing to the second round where they will face Wesson either Friday or Saturday. Simply put, Hayden and company like their chances.
“It’s a great time to peak, because this is when we need it at the beginning of the playoffs,” Hayden said. “And it gives us a confidence boost. We’re ready for the next game.”
