(PHOTOS BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
NWOAL SOCCER … Bryan’s Max Burton controls the ball in the first half of a 2-0 win at Evergreen. Burton later scored in the final minute of the match to seal the victory for Bryan. VIEW 225 PHOTOS OF THIS CONTEST FOR FREE AT WWW.THEVILLAGEREPORTER.COM
EVERGREEN VIKING … Junior midfielder Max Fisher pushes the ball down the field to a fellow Viking.
By: Joe Blystone
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
METAMORA (September 10, 2024) – Earlier this season, Evergreen lost a 2-1 decision to Lake on a game winning goal with one second left in the first half.
Then after a last second goal was disallowed at Liberty Center, the Vikings had to settle for a 1-1 tie.
The third in a trio of final tick of the clock events came Tuesday when Bryan’s Alex Diaz scored when the clock ticked to zeroes at the end of the first half and the Golden Bears added a second in the last minute of the game to defeat Evergreen 2-0.
For the first 39:59 scoring chances were few and far between. Viking freshman Landon Kiefer had a good look in the 7th minute from left of the goal, but his drive was just wide.
AJ Fox had the best scoring try in the first 40 when he fired a hooking shot from the left side that Bear goalie Dom Malanga made a leaping punch save on at the halfway point of the first.
Bryan’s Jack Kennedy high arcing shot was speared by Alex Mossing in the face of an oncoming attacker with 12 to go for the Bears’ best chance to that point.
Then came the last few seconds when Diaz got between the Viking defenders and nubbed a rolling attempt ahead of Mossing’s charge into the net for a 1-0 Bryan lead.
Konnor Sanford had two chances for Evergreen in the first three minutes of the second half, but Malanga easily harnessed the first and punched away the second, again going high toward the crossbar.
Carter Altaffer had a golden chance in the 10th minute from point blank in front, but Mossing stoned him cold. Mossing then beat Bryan attackers to passes in front to clear and Alex Fritsch blocked two more Bryan shots to keep it a one goal game.
Evergreen had one more good try when Fox lofted a high pop on target but again Malanga regathered himself and made a leaping save with three minutes to go.
Bryan added a clincher in the last minute when Mossing got caught way out on the side of the net and Max Burton made the mistake count for Bryan with a tally with 17 seconds left.
BRYAN (5-2-1, 2-0 NWOAL) – Goals: Alex Diaz, Max Burton; Assists: Jack Kennedy, Carter Altaffer; Saves: Dom Malanga – 9; Shots on goal: 9
EVERGREEN (4-3-1, 1-1-1 NWOAL) – Shots on goal: 9