BURGAW – East Bladen’s Greyson Heustess tied the game 3-3 with a goal in the final minute of overtime, and the Eagles outscored Pender 4-3 in the penalty kick shoot-out to claim a Four County Conference men’s soccer victory Tuesday night.
With Pender up 3-2 in the final minute of overtime, sophmore Dan Tatum sent a ball up-field to junior Brooks McGill who worked in behind the Patriot defense. McGill’s shot was tipped and fell back to Heustess who put it in to tie the game.
“It was a smooth finish. Greyson really stepped it up in the overtimes,” said Eagle Coach Jay Raynor. “The game was played away from him a majority of the game but when the ball was with him he made it count. He has a great understanding of angles and the game. He was in the right spot at the right time and it wasn’t luck because he knew to be there.”
The Patriots made their first 2 kicks in the shoot-out. The Eagles answered each time as freshman Jake Evans and McGill fired in their penalty kicks.
Eagle goalie Spencer Scott made what Coach Raynor called, “an unbelievable save on their third kick. It was the best hit PK but he guessed right and was completely outstretched to make the save.”
The teams traded misses before senior Grey Cabellero buried his penalty kick to put East up 3-2 in the shoot-out. Junior Caleb Hatchell then knocked in the game winner.
“It was a huge win for us,” said Coach Raynor. “They are a very good team. Everyone is going to be tough in league play. It was good to see what my guys have inside. We were busting our butts but little mistakes or fouls or bounces of the ball were going against us. Our guys could’ve packed it up but they fought the entire way.”
The Eagles had some scoring chances early but neither team scored until Pender broke the ice on a penalty kick in the 30th minute.
“Spencer made a heck of a play,” said Raynor. “He basically took the ball off the kids foot but on the follow through the ball slipped out and he tried to pull it back in and grabbed the young man’s leg. It was unfortunate but he did all he could do.”
Less then a minute later the Eagles were fouled about 30 yards out. “We executed one of our set pieces to perfection,” continued Raynor. “Grey chipped a ball to Brooks who was cutting to goal and brought it in out of the air. Brooks calmly finished the shot to beat the keeper.”
The game was tied 1-1 at halftime. “We made adjustments that helped us establish more of a presence in midfield,” noted Raynor. “Also subbed for Pierce (Melvin) 8 minutes before half to give him an extended halftime. Those extra minutes of rest helped him become a big force late in the game and the overtimes for us.”
East Bladen took a 2-1 lead in the 54th minute. Melvin won the ball and sent a pass into Cabellero who nailed a shot from 30 yards out that curled inside the back post. “It was well-hit and well-placed,” said Coach Raynor.
Pender tied the game 2-2 in the 71st minute when Scott made a diving save on a shot that was drilled but the Patriots pounced on the rebound to score the goal.
The Patriots took their 3-2 lead in the sixth minute of the first overtime on what Coach Raynor described as “an unbelievable shot from the far left side of the box. Didn’t look like he had much of an angle but he found one.”
Raynor credited his backline of Tatum, sophmore Ezequiel Arteaga, sophmore Keshaun Davis and freshman Gabe Barber for keeping the Patriots No. 7 in check. “We limited his looks and shots. It was a huge task for a freshman to be put in but Gabe did what I knew he would do… Shut the kid down for the most part. Our back four and the keeper are working well together and are tough to break down.”
Scott racked up 11 saves and Raynor said, “He was a reason for us having a chance at the end and he worked his butt off. Communication and keeping the backline together was huge but so were his 6 diving saves.”
Raynor was also pleased with the play of Jacob Barber. “He had some big minutes and had to step in immediately for Caleb due to an early yellow card. He was there for us late in the game and is always giving us 110%.”
Coach Raynor felt that Cabellero and Melvin were keys to the victory. “They made some plays in midfield at times when our midfield was nonexistent, and they both challenged the keeper from distance. That opened up some runs for Brooks and Jake on the outsides. Both had their wind late in the game that was vital to taking the game into overtime and the shoot-out.”
“This is one of the best results we have gotten,” concluded Raynor. “It showed our toughness and our resilience. We pushed through and gave them everything we had. I am proud of my team. We will continue to improve on the areas that give us a fit and on the things that we do well.”
East Bladen improves to 2-1 in league play and 6-2-1 overall. The Eagles will host Heide Trask at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
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