DIXFIELD — Time simply ran out on Dirigo in a Mountain Valley Conference game played Monday afternoon at windy Harlow Park.
In a bizarre twist of events, penalty kicks were front-and-center in the second half, and while both teams capitalized, Dustin Crawford scored off a rebound with 5:03 left in the game as Carrabec pulled out a hard fought 3-2 win.
Dirigo sophomore Randy DeRoche scored a pair of goals — including one off a PK that tied the score with 11 minutes left to play.
The Cougars pressured the offensive zone and had several opportunities, but were unable to solve Carrabec goalie Trent Richardson who proved to be equally aggressive.
“We didn’t start out well and they got up on us,”Dirigo coach Owen Libby said. “But, I felt the effort was there in the last 10 minutes of the first half and through out a majority of the second half. We had the ball in (position), but we just couldn’t finish the deal.”
Dirigo (0-4) trailed 2-1 and was supplying pressure when DeRoche was hauled down from behind and was awarded a PK. The Cougar squared up and booted a drive past Richardson (12 saves) who dove to his left.
It was DeRoche who corralled a loose ball and tied the game, 1-1, at 17:01 after Brian Volkernick had booted a free kick into the left post.
Carrabec coach Brandon Dickson was concerned because each time the Cobrasled they suffered a letdown and Dirigo was able to shift the momentum. Still, Carrabec engineered one last surge and it paid off when a PK was called.
Crawford’s initial kick was stopped by Dirigo goalie Justin Grignon (10 saves) , but the ball bounced out to his right. Crawford alertly moved in a kicked the ball into the far corner.
Dirigo hit the field running and forced the Cobras defense to converge in front of the goalie. Shots by Cody Dolloff, Ben Buck, strikers Josh Mostofizadeh and Trevor Statham and halfback Nick St.Germain failed to find the net. The Cougars had been pressuring the crease with Jason Baldinelli and a PK was called midway through the second half. Statham’s shot was stopped by Richardson and a kick went over the net.
“Early on we was crowding the midfield,” Libby said. “I don’t feel that we was going after and winning enough 50-50 ballss. But, we’ll look at it and make adjustments.”
Carrabec’s Boog Dunphy scored two minutes into the second half to lead 2-1. Dunphy’s initial shot was saved by Grignon. but the ball bounced off the cross bar and back down, in the crease and Dunphy hit the left corner.
Colby Fortin had scored 10 minutes in to the game, to give Carrabec a 1-0 lead.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
