Lincoln Academy fans swarm the boys soccer team after the Eagles defeated Freeport on penalty kicks in a Class C South quarterfinal match on Wednesday, Oct. 25. (Paula Roberts photo)
Pablo Iglesias Martin centers the ball for the Eagles. (Paula Roberts photo)
It took the Eagles boys soccer team two overtimes and four rounds of a penalty kick shootout to finally overcome the Freeport Falcons. Lincoln Academy (11-1-3) came out on top in the scrappy Class B South quarterfinal match 3-2 on Wednesday, Oct. 25.
The victory avenged the Eagles’ only regular season loss, a very close 1-0 match in Freeport on Sept. 29.
“Beating a strong southern team like Freeport builds a lot of confidence, and confidence is key during the playoffs,” said Eagles head coach Jeff Burroughs. “We got off to a flat start and fell behind, but the guys fought back with some nice goals, and then it was just a battle. I’m so proud of these guys.”
Freeport took an early lead on an Owen Rusiecki breakaway. Casey Duncan knotted the score on a penalty kick with 15:53 remaining in the half. The PK was called after Lucas Houghton was fouled from behind. The Eagles took the lead less than two minutes later on a mad scramble that saw E.J. Hunt find the net on a header, with Peter Thelander collecting the assist. Garrett Richeson converted a cross from Max Naneikis with 1:30 to play in the half to knot the score.
Neither team would find the net again in the second half or through two 15-minute overtimes, sending the game to penalty kicks.
Pablo Martin made good on his PK. Eagle keeper Marcello Endrizzi stopped Rusiecki. Conor Cass drilled his PK. Ivan Lyons found the net on his PK. Endrizzi scored for the Eagles and Richeson for Freeport. Nestor put his PK in the back of the net. Endrizzi then stopped Cam Tourgny to end the game.
Lincoln Academy advances to the Class B South semifinals.
