FRANKLIN-Despite missing two starters and losing its starting goalie in the first half, Franklin High School managed to hang with Surry County High School in a Tri-Rivers District soccer game Wednesday. In the end, Surry had just enough offense to down the Broncos 2-1.

Franklin was missing starters Byron Jack and Brandon Kandare and then lost goalie Bradley Strozier, who had to leave the game at the 31:29 mark of the first half when he hit his head on the left post going after a ball and gashed it open. Isiah Hudson, who had never played goalie before, not even in practice, took over as the keeper.

Hudson did an admirable job in the goal for not having played the position.

&uot;He did beautifully. He really stepped up. He volunteered to go out there,&uot; said Franklin head coach Frank Padilla. &uot;

One of the few mistakes Hudson made set up Surry’s first goal. Hudson grabbed a ball and stepped outside of the goalie box with 10:58 to play in the first half. Surry’s Kenneth Robertson lofted the indirect kick, which was headed into the Franklin goal by Steven Finley.

The Cougars (2-1-1), who kept the ball on the Franklin side of the field for much of the second half, broke through again at the beginning of the half. Forty-five seconds into the period, Derek Gassler blasted a shot from 40 yards out that went over Hudson’s head for a goal.

Surry head coach Maggie Baker said her team could be much better if Gassler would settle his shots more.

&uot;The shooter we have needs to settle down and we’re an excellent team,&uot; she said.

About four minutes later, Franklin countered when Tyler Childress banged a through-ball to Emmitt Artis, who faked out Surry goalie Baker Cox and dumped in a shot to the right.

The teams played even the rest of the way. The Franklin defense stopped an indirect kick by Robertson in the last 1:25 of the game to keep it close.

Surry and Franklin tied 2-2 earlier in the season. Baker said her team did a better job of moving the ball than in the first matchup.

&uot;We played the same

game, only this time we were a little better at passing, getting it forward and taking shots on net. This time we meant business,&uot; she said.

Padilla said the Broncos had not practiced for more than a week because of rain and the suspension of athletic events after the death of FHS student-athlete Josh Willis.