John Bapst boys’ soccer downs Bangor as playoffs loom
After 80 minutes of deliberation between crosstown rivals John Bapst and Bangor, the Crusaders got here out on prime 2-0 on Wednesday night time at Cameron Stadium.
It was a expensive loss for Bangor, who now sit at 3-8-1 with solely two video games remaining within the common season. They’ll must leapfrog each Messalonskee and Skowhegan within the subsequent week to safe the No. 8 seed — and remaining playoff spot — within the Class A North race.
Bapst in the meantime improved to 10-1-1, and stood at second place within the Class B North standings previous to Wednesday night time’s sport, behind 9-2-1 Winslow. The Crusaders’ victory clinched the season sweep over the Rams, having already crushed them 4-0 again on Sept. 14.
Bangor actually put up a greater battle on Wednesday, however the boys in purple have been nonetheless in a position to rating three minutes into the sport, and with three minutes remaining.
Junior midfielder Oscar Martinez bought the primary one for Bapst, after drawing a foul within the 18-yard field and burying the following penalty kick into the underside proper nook.
Martinez initially misplayed an oncoming go within the field, however recuperated and tricked the Rams into tripping him.
“I attempted to get the ball again as shortly as doable, and simply went to work,” Martinez mentioned. “It’s vital to hustle usually on the ball, and I bought a PK.”
Senior Ellis Columber bought the bookends for Bapst on a wild play within the 77th minute, tapping a unfastened ball previous the Bangor keeper after a collection of ricochets proper exterior the six-yard field.
“We would have been dropping just a little steam there, however [with] one final push on the finish it was good to get one in,” Columber mentioned. “It was battle, and it put it away.”
Bangor gave Bapst goalkeeper Connor Messervey a pair good checks towards the tip of the primary half, however couldn’t string collectively any threatening photographs on purpose within the second half. The Crusaders did job of making use of stress all sport, and retaining the ball within the attacking third.
The Crusaders’ sport plan revolves round attacking as a workforce, and their skilled trio of juniors Logan Hart, Ethan Marquis and Oscar Martinez did a implausible job marshaling the offense.
“We completed sturdy, and wish to carry onto that mentality,” Hart mentioned. “Presque Isle and Outdated City arising will give us battle.”
After Bapst performs these remaining two common season video games, the Crusaders will transfer onto the postseason and attempt to attain the state remaining for the second yr in a row.
John Bapst was Class B North champion final yr, earlier than dropping a heartbreaker to Yarmouth within the state remaining 3-2.
“We gotta keep wholesome; final yr we struggled with accidents within the postseason,” Hart mentioned. “We now have to return in with one hundred pc depth.”
Hart and Martinez imagine the workforce’s confidence may get them over the hump this yr.
“If we preserve our confidence excessive — not overconfident or underconfident — and we carry out, I anticipate us to go far this postseason,” Martinez mentioned.
