This time last season, Garett Johnson was battling mononucleosis.
The Moorhead senior seemed in perfect shape Saturday, scoring both Spuds' goals in their 2-1 boys soccer victory over Fargo South.
The senior midfielder tied the game on a penalty kick less than nine minutes into the second half and punched in the game-winner with just under 13 minutes remaining at the Moorview Soccer Complex.
"He has some real innate abilities with the ball," Moorhead coach Tim Costello said. "He's really solidified our midfield."
Johnson missed nearly half his junior season with mono after being diagnosed the first week of school.
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"I went to practices and couldn't play," Johnson said. "If the ball hit me in the spleen, it could explode."
Almost a full year later, Johnson has fully recovered and is one of the Spuds' (7-2) offensive weapons.
He used misdirection to fool South goalkeeper Petter Eriksmoen on the penalty kick.
Then he took advantage of a long throw-in by senior Cole Nirschl and kicked the game-winner into the left side of the net.
"Cole had a perfect throw-in," Johnson said.
Adel Mergoum gave the Bruins (5-6) a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute after a 15-second scuffle for the ball in front of the net.
Bobby Syal came away with the ball and passed to Mergoum, who quickly tapped a soft shot into the right side of the net.
South controlled the ball most of the first half, getting several opportunities. But in the eyes of South coach Dean Hashbarger, the Bruins passed on several others.
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"We're either taking that last touch we need to have or we don't," Hashbarger said. "We want to burn the back of the net. They don't quite understand that you don't have to."
FIRST HALF: 1, South, Mergoum (Syal) 32:42.
SECOND HALF: 2, Moorhead, Johnson (pk) 48:52. 3, Moorhead, Johnson (Nirschl) 68:54.
SAVES: South, Eriksmoen 8. Moorhead, Haskins 4.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Dustin Monke at (701) 241-5549
