Strong boys soccer season ends in a heartbreaker (11/02)

By Administrator

May. 6, 2004

Beneath twilight skies, the boys soccer team limped off a vast green playoff field. With its fate hanging precariously on one game, the team valiantly battled Lincoln on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at Boxer Field, needing a win to advance to the championship. Sadly, the Cardinals came up excruciatingly short in a painful 1-0 loss to the Mustangs.

Since Lowells only defeat during the regular season was against Lincoln, the Cardinals entered the game understandably cautious.

Both teams are pretty skilled, so this wasnt going to be very fast-paced game, senior Erol Efendioglu said.

Despite being partially blinded by the makeshift wall, Leininger instinctively dove to his right and deflected the ball off the post, his body almost parallel to the ground.

Lincoln slightly over-matched Lowell in the first half of the game, readily taking advantage of their speed with occasional energetic bursts. Overall, however, both teams played an extremely skillful and methodical game.

Midway through the first half, junior goalkeeper Danai Leininger made an outstanding diving save. Lincoln decided to feign during a free kick one player purposefully missed the ball while a second quickly ran behind him and shot. Despite being partially blinded by the makeshift wall, Leininger instinctively dove to his right and deflected the ball off the post, his body almost parallel to the ground.

I was happy with my save, but I wish it would have made a bigger difference in the final outcome, Leininger said.

Lowells defense played a phenomenal game reflective of their entire season and the teams offense was not far behind.

We got off some nice shots, a lot more than last game (against Lincoln), even if they werent hitting the back of the net, junior Steven Gong said.

Senior David Levine streaks toward Lincoln's goal on Nov. 13.
Jad Mogannam

The Cardinals had plenty of opportunities to score their midfielders did an excellent job of kicking the ball downfield and not holding on to the ball too long but luck just wasnt on their side.

The ball didnt bounce our way down near the goal, junior Leo Vrana said. But the ball did bounce Lincolns way. In the middle of the second half, a Mustang nimbly rushed past three Cardinals and smashed a hovering drive into the net. According to senior Chet Williams, Lincoln was rubbing its golden horseshoe and it paid off.

We got an unlucky break on that goal, Williams said. The ball bounced off of (senior) Erik (Maki) and went behind our defenders.

Lowells offense did not panic and still managed to set up a plethora of scoring opportunities, but, as in the first half, the Cardinals could not capitalize.

With seconds left in the game, Lowell had two opportunities to score, both of which failed. Sophomore Alex Peterlin had a free kick from the right corner in Mustang territory, but his drive bounced off of a Lincoln player and out of bounds. Peterlins second kick, and Lowells last chance to tie the game, also rolled out of bounds. Lincoln celebrated with flying fists in the air and shouts of joy. Lowell was visibly frustrated.

"We had a defensive miscue, and that lost the game for us.

EUGENE VRANA
Assistant coach

We dominated the second half, assistant coach Eugene Vrana said. They dominated the first half, but they scored in the second. We had a defensive miscue, and that lost the game for us. However, the team was not completely dissatisfied.

We played a very complete game, senior Chris Dayans said. We moved the ball around much better than last game (against Lincoln).

Vrana was especially positive about the teams season.

After our first loss (against Lincoln) we made tactical adjustments, and that brought us into the playoffs. Vrana said. This has been one of our best records in years, and one of our best defensive seasons in decades.

In fact, Lowell allowed only four goals during the regular season, two of which Lincoln scored.

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