Varsity Boys Soccer Playoffs: Chancellor Chargers vs. King George Foxes
By: Greg Wolfe
The Chancellor Chargers (15-3-1) only struggles all season long had come against their Conference 19 Championship Game opponent, the King George Foxes (14-2-1). The Foxes had tied and beaten the Chargers earlier in the season but tonight, in the game that mattered most, it was the Chargers who came out on top. In the first 5-minute period of overtime, Daniel Garcia played the hero as his huge goal gave the Chargers the 2-1 advantage, and eventual victory to win the conference.
The first half of the conference championship was one of multiple struggles on both sides of the field. While the Foxes struggled with fouls and bad passes giving away good looking possessions, the Chargers suffered two early injuries to starters Josh Ransure and Nico Vega which gave the Foxes a big size advantage on the field.
The Chargers' goalie Josh Reid was in control of the net however, and shut out the Foxes in the first half not allowing any major threats. His two early big saves after two shots from the Foxes' Mikey McLaughlin and Chas Parker were what kept the Foxes from every gaining a lead in the game.
Cole Lipinski's effort as the Foxes' goalie can't be ignored either, as he notched two saves as well to keep the score even at zero. Though the Chargers' never really got a decent look at the net thanks to a tall-standing Foxes' defense, he still stood tall cutting down any threats quickly.
When both teams came back out to start the second half, the speed was notably different. The Chargers were the one's who benefited most, as it only took the Chargers five minutes to break up the stalemate as Angel Sierra-Hernandez tapped in the goal electrifying his team to a 1-0 lead.
Sierra-Hernandez's goal put an extra skip in the Chargers' step, as they played about 33 minutes of strong, impenetrable defense where it seemed as if the Chargers had the championship locked up.
With just two minutes left to play however, the Foxes took advantage and stormed down the field. After Reid made a diving save, the Foxes' Alex Lutpon was right there in front of the net to knock it in and ultimately send the game to overtime ruining the Chargers thoughts of a quick victory.
As overtime started, the Chargers were looking for offense again that they hadn't seen since they came back fully rested after halftime. With a team bordering exhaustion and not many subs left on the bench, the Chargers were desperate to end the game as quickly as they could.
Two minutes into the first round of overtime, it was Daniel Garcia who answered. From almost forty yards out, Garcia took a chance and punted the ball towards the net. Lipinski was unable to stop the missile of a shot by Garcia, as it hit the top corner of the net and went in to give the Chargers back the advantage and close to a championship once again.
In the end, the Chargers' defense stood tall. The Foxes had two corner kicks in the final two minutes of the second round of overtime, and came up empty both times as Reid continued to be a wall in front of the net along with help from his strong defense.
The Chargers would play keep-away, and the whistle would blow clinching the championship as the Chargers upset the number 1 seeded Foxes. The storm of rain that had been feared all night finally came just as the final whistle blew, but the wind couldn't ruin the Chargers celebration as they graciously accepted the Conference Trophy at midfield after an incredible regular season.
The Chargers aren't done yet, and there's still a long road ahead as they will look forward to their next competition next week which is yet to be decided.
Notable Stats
- Josh Reid (Ch) and Cole Lipinski (KG) recorded four saves for their respective teams.
- Angel Sierra-Hernandez and Daniel Garcia only had one shot on goal each, and both cashed in for a goal with their lone chance.
- Mikey McLaughlin and Chas Parker both were held scoreless, combining for four shots on goal
- Both teams combined for 13 corner kicks
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