Staff photo by Steve Muscatello New Ulm’s Joey Gag (9) and Mankato East’s Medy Akwai go after the ball during the first half Thursday at New Ulm High School.

NEW ULM — It seems that as the game moves along, everyone on the field gets tired except for Jack Howard.

Howard, a senior attacker for the New Ulm boys’ soccer team, was a late-game hero for the second game in a row, scoring twice as the Eagles (4-3) defeated Mankato East 2-1 in a nonconference battle at New Ulm High School.

Earlier in the week, Howard game-winner against Mankato Loyola with 6:07 left in the game. Howard’s game-winner on Thursday came with 5:39 left in the game.

Howard initially gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead with 11:26 left in the game, but the Cougars tied it up five minutes later and it looked like overtime was possible.

But nobody told that to Howard.

Less than a minute after East’s goal, Howard received a perfectly placed pass from teammate Dan Rosenhamer directly in front of the net and put it away for the go-ahead goal. Howard was quick to point out that Rosenhamer was the one responsible for that play and he gave credit to his teammate.

“That was all Dan Rosenhamer, No. 5,” Howard said.

He said it took a while for the Eagles to figure out East.

“Mankato East has always been an excellent team, so for us, we had to sit back and figure out how they play,” Howard said. “They had huge changeover from last year, as well. Once we figured out how they were playing, we started going. There were a few moments when I was worried, but we came together as a team and won in the end.”

The teams battled to a scoreless first half and the second half was also scoreless until Howard broke that tie with a nice move that led to a him getting a shot to the left of the goalkeeper. Aaron Eikanger assisted on the first goal.

“I thought the guy was trying to get it, and then I ran in and I saw the goalie charge it so I just tapped right through the right,” Howard said.

Josh Rakoczy had 18 saves for the Eagles.

The Eagles get back into action on Saturday at Jordan. The game is scheduled to start at 11 a.m.