ORANGE — A late goal by James Temple and a brilliant save by Logan Dodge propelled the Mahar Regional boys soccer team to a McGrath Division championship on Wednesday night at the Woodward Complex.
The Senators needed a point to clinch the outright league title against Sabis International Charter School, and they got it with a 3-3 draw under the lights.
“We’ve been feeling good about ourselves all year,” Mahar coach Dan Guertin said. “Just trying to put our best effort forward for each game.”
Mahar (13-2-3, 10-0-2 McGrath) faced two separate deficits in the match but battled back on both occasions.
“The first one they rebounded with a ton of energy,” Guertin said. “The second one they really had to grit it out at the end. It took a lot.”
Sabis (11-3-4, 9-0-3) took the lead in the first half, but Mahar quickly answered with goals from Robert Harris and Riley Drew.
In the second half, the Bulldogs scored twice to take a 3-2 lead with 27 minutes, 15 seconds remaining in the game. The second comeback took a little more time.
After several failed attempts by the offense, Temple took control and fired a hard shot to the left corner to even the match for the Senators with 11 minutes left.
The shot came from around the 18-yard line.
“I put it on Temple,” Guertin said. “I told him it’s time to step up.”
Mahar then had to fight off incessant pressure from the Bulldogs in the closing minutes. With under 30 seconds left to play, Dodge made a point-blank save on a Sabis shot to preserve the draw.
“To be in that position is kind of hard,” Dodge said of the Bulldogs’ late attack. “You don’t want anything to mess up.”
When Dodge collected the save and punted it downfield, the final whistle signaled the end of the match and the league crown.
“I was just in the moment,” Dodge said. “It was just right there. It was a quick instant.”
Mahar will find out its postseason seeding in the Division III tournament on Friday.
“I believe we can keep the momentum,” Dodge said. “Just the way we pushed at the very end. It worked out for us. Hopefully we can keep that momentum.”
Dodge made nine saves for the Senators.
“My timer had already gone off,” Guertin said of the late dramatics. “So I didn’t think he would have to make it. That saved so much. That was tremendous.”
Both Drew and Simon Powell left the game with injuries but the Senators will have until at least Monday to heal up for the playoffs.
Gavin Sullivan assisted on Harris’ goal that came after a Mahar corner kick. The ball bounced around until Sullivan collected it and fed Harris.
Jonathan Mahony picked up an assist on Drew’s goal.
The Bulldogs opened the scoring in the match when Jeremy Townsend’s pass found Alex Williams for a goal.
Tre Hodge picked up two goals in quick succession in the second half, giving the Bulldogs a 3-2 lead.
Mahar 3, Sabis 3
|
Sabis |
1 |
2 |
— |
3 |
|
Mahar |
2 |
1 |
— |
3 |
Goals: (S) Williams, Hodge 2. (M) Temple, Drew, Harris.
Assists: (S) Townsend. (M) Mahony, Sullivan.
Saves: (S) Alban 4. (M) Dodge 9.
