LISBON — It was an impressive start, but a heartbreaking finish for the Lisbon boys’ soccer team Saturday.
The Greyhounds came out hard, played aggressive and created an abundance of chances early in their Class C South preliminary with Traip. Lisbon did everything it wanted to do but still failed to accomplish what it hoped for.
Instead, it was Traip that scored first. Though the Greyhounds managed to tie it, the Rangers earned a late penalty kick and converted for a 2-1 win.
“I thought we controlled play,” Lisbon coach Dan Sylvester said. “The kids executed what we wanted to. We had some opportunities and we just couldn’t finish. That was our goal. To go out early and get one in and hopefully put a couple more in. That’s a typical day of soccer. Both teams played hard. You can’t take anything away from anybody. It just came down to a situation at the end.”
Henry Driscoll scored both goals for Traip (4-9-2). His penalty kick with 2:06 left in regulation was the game-winner. His brother, Charlie Driscoll, drew a tripping call in the box that lead to the penalty kick.
“I had one earlier in the year that I missed that cost us the game,” Driscoll said. “So I had missed before in a clutch moment. So I really had to focus on that one.”
Driscoll’s shot caught Lisbon keeper Jonah Sautter moving left. Driscoll put his shot right into an open side.
“I had looked right at him and at the last second, I looked left and shot right and he went left,” Henry Driscoll said.
Ninth-seeded Traip finished the season 1-4-2 in its last seven games, and had a slow start Saturday. Between a lengthy drive, unfamiliarity with Lisbon and getting used to the Greyhounds’ field, it took the Rangers some time to adjust.
“I think we did make some specific adjustments, especially making sure that long pass wasn’t going to beat us” Traip coach Donny Gagnon, whose team advances to play top-seeded Hall-Dale, said. “I thought our backs did a nice job making sure that long relay didn’t beat us.”
Eighth-seeded Lisbon (8-7) came out moving the ball effectively and playing aggressively. It had Traip on its heels and the Greyhounds created pressure. Austin Fournier had a nice rush but had his shot saved. Jacob Fusaro had a bid from the outside that was stopped by keeper Blue Clark. Nick Huston had a run that was saved and then the rebound was cleared.
Lisbon outshot the Rangers 7-0 to start the game. Traip’s first shot was a bid that sailed over the net. Traip struggled to get much offense going against Lisbon’s relentless early play.
“We had a couple of good looks and it just didn’t fall for us,” Sylvester said. “Sometimes that’s the way it happens in the game of soccer.”
Traip’s second shot was right on target. A turnover in the midfield enabled Traip to transition the ball the other way. Andrew Davis fed Driscoll up front behind the defense for an open shot with 1:35 left in the half.
“That was probably one of the best combinations we’ve had as a team,” Driscoll said. “I can’t take much credit for that goal. Davis just fed it to me and I had an open shot on goal.”
Lisbon tied the game just 2:41 into the second half on a penalty kick. Nick Huston buried a low shot to the right corner.
The two teams traded surges through the rest of regulation. Traip had a chance off a corner but the header was saved by Sautter. Teddy Driscoll set up Trevor Salema for a shot, but Sautter made that save as well. Lisbon had a free kick by Fournier go over the net. The Greyhounds put some good pressure on late. Noah Austin did a nice job in the midfield winning the ball and sending the attack back in, but the Greyhounds just couldn’t find the finishing touch.
With overtime drawing near, Charlie Driscoll drew the foul call and his brother, Henry, buried the penalty kick for the lead.
“I think our kids played really well,” Sylvester said. “There’s not much we can change today. We had our opportunities. The kids worked really hard. Both teams did. At the end, they just had the opportunity to finish it.”
kmills@sunjournal.com
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