ORANGE — The opportunity to win a game was there for Connor Mahony.
The Athol High School boys soccer team had played Mahar Regional even until the final minutes on Thursday night at the Woodward Complex.
When Bryce King sent a perfectly placed through ball between Mahar’s defense, Mahony found himself on a breakaway. Mahony hit the back of the net, giving the Red Raiders a 3-2 win over the rival Senators under the lights.
“It was kind of weird, I am not going to lie,” Mahony said of the game-winner. “I wasn’t expecting anything like that to happen … playing against my brother.”
Jon Mahony plays for Mahar Regional.
“This year I feel like Mahar came into the game too aggressive,” Connor Mahony said. “They thought they were going to win. We just came altogether as a team.”
King’s pass to Mahony with around two minutes left came through a cloud of dense fog that had encompassed the Woodward Complex, especially the sideline with team benches.
“Just a through ball with a little backspin on it,” King said. “Saw Connor, but I could barely see him in the fog. He didn’t start this game and was upset about it, you could tell. But he came out and played his hardest. Great leadership by him.”
King finished with two goals and an assist for the Red Raiders (4-1-2), who handed the Senators their first loss of the season (7-1-1) in the independent contest.
Athol set the tone early, scoring in the first minute of the game.
Mark Ferrari’s direct kick from midfield sailed into the Mahar penalty area. A darting King ran onto the ball and found the net to give the Red Raiders the early 1-0 lead.
“I went on the left side and Mark (Ferrari) sent a great ball,” King said. “That’s why you work on touches every day in practice.”
Athol coach Ruddy Paulino picked up his first victory against Mahar as a head coach.
The tone of the game had the usual crosstown rivalry aggression, but sportsmanship prevailed with plenty of friendly interactions between players.
“It was intense,” Paulino said. “As a head coach you have to make choices and move people around. It was good overall especially when you come out on top.”
The Senators did not have leading scorer Riley Drew, who injured his right knee against Pioneer Valley Regional earlier in the week and missed Thursday night’s contest.
“We have to play better all the way around,” Mahar coach Dan Guertin said. “Defense has to play better. Tons of stupid fouls. The offense needs to learn to work without Riley.”
After Athol’s opening goal, Mahar scored twice to take a 2-1 lead.
The first was an Athol own goal, followed by Cole Johnson’s tally on an assist from Robert Harris.
King scored again to tie the game on a direct kick near the left sideline. He went for the goal and delivered an accurate shot right below the crossbar that tied the game going into halftime.
Mahar had plenty of chances to take the lead, holding a 12-7 edge in shots.
Athol goalie Casey Mason kept things tied in the middle of the second half with a diving save on a point-blank chance by Mahar’s Henry Ndayisaba.
Mason finished with 10 saves for Athol, while Logan Dodge made five saves for the Senators.
The Red Raiders return to action Saturday with a home game against Taconic (3:30 p.m.) while Mahar is back at it Monday night at home against Smith Academy.
Athol 3, Mahar 2
|
Athol |
2 |
1 |
— |
3 |
|
Mahar |
2 |
0 |
— |
2 |
Goals: (A) King 2, C. Mahony. (M) Johnson, own goal.
Assists: (A) Ferrari, King (M) Harris
Saves: (A) Mason 10. (M) Dodge 5.
