ATHOL — A solid defensive effort wasn’t quite good enough for the Athol High School boys soccer team in a 1-0 loss to Quabbin Regional on Monday night at O’Brien Field.
After holding Quabbin scoreless for most of the independent match, a goal with 11 minutes left gave the Panthers the road victory.
The Red Raiders (6-3-3) had their opportunities on offense but couldn’t find the net.
“They were there,” Athol coach Ruddy Paulino said. “But couldn’t finish.”
The game with Quabbin has similarities to battles with crosstown rival Mahar.
“It’s almost the town next over,” Paulino said. “You got all these towns that are next to each other. They want to win the game. If they win it’s kind of proving something. It’s a good rivalry.”
Athol’s best chance came with around 15 minutes left in the game when Nick Bousquet sent a ball near Quabbin’s 18-yard line toward a streaking Bryce King.
Quabbin keeper Pierce Rhinehart came off his line aggressively, colliding with King.
The referee assessed Rhinehart a yellow card saying he led with his knee, giving the Red Raiders a direct kick against backup keeper Andrew Ljungberg.
King’s shot deflected off Quabbin’s wall right to Ljungberg.
Rhinehart subbed back in and finished with 19 saves for Quabbin. The Panthers scored the game-winner on a corner kick in the 69th minute.
Will Ordung sent the corner into the box to Michael Toupin, who netted the goal past Athol keeper Casey Mason.
Athol sent some defenders into the box on direct kicks in an attempt to tie the game but could could not take advantage.
“We had a few close ones,” Paulino said. “We were looking for that right bounce. The right touch.”
Both teams had quality opportunities in the first third.
Jonah Paulino hit the crossbar on a header opportunity for the Red Raiders.
On a direct kick near the sideline, Quabbin’s Kenny Soltgitis sent the ball bending toward the net under the crossbar. Mason jumped up and punched it away from the net.
Mason finished with 12 saves.
The Panthers actually found the net on a direct kick opportunity but the play was ruled offsides.
The second half started with the Panthers getting a couple good shots off against the Red Raiders.
Toupin had a nice attempt for Quabbin that just went wide of the goal.
Colin Arnold followed with a shot a few minutes later for the Panthers, but the shot went right to Mason, who knocked it down before collecting the rebound.
It didn’t take long for Quabbin to get another chance.
Jacob Halfrey then broke through on a breakaway but could not get a shot on goal once the Athol defense collapsed.
Halfrey curled and passed to Dylan Hoekstra whose shot again went wide to the right of Mason.
Athol’s Antonio Carbone launched a shot around the 26th minute of the second half that just missed.
Quabbin 1, Athol 0
|
Quabbin |
0 |
1 |
— |
1 |
|
Athol |
0 |
0 |
— |
0 |
Goals: (Q) Toupin
Assists: (Q) Ordung
Saves: (Q) Rhinehart 19; Ljungberg 1 (A) Mason 12
