For the second straight year, Medomak boys’ soccer team came up with a huge victory during their Homecoming. The Panthers handed Lincoln Academy their second loss of the season, 1-0. It was a physical match-up from the start between the two county rivals.
Lincoln out shot Medomak 34-11, but were unable to punch a shot past Panther keeper Caleb Thompson. Thompson set the tone early when he made a diving block on an Andrew Feltis rocket on the right side. The Panther net minder was perfect, making 23 saves in the contest.
The two teams battled to a scoreless first half in windy and cold conditions. Medomak had the wind to their backs but were unable to take advantage, although they had a couple of nice runs on wind blown passes, and they missed high on two direct kicks just outside the box.
Lincoln picked up their offensive intensity in the second half (21 shots), but it was matched by strong defense from Steven Genthner, Dustin Osier, Isaac Durkee, Shane Osier and Jonathan Hendrickson-Belloquet. Thompson continued to have the golden gloves in net turning away 13 shots.
The Panthers got their break with 14:06 to go when Belloquet was pulled down in the box on a breakaway, drawing a penalty kick. Dustin Osier made good on a freebie to the corner for the game winner.
Lincoln mounted a blitz of pressure in the Panthers’ defensive end the final 14 minutes of the game, but missed high, or were stopped by the heroics of Thompson in net.
Kyle Scherer made six saves in net for the Eagles.
Neither team scored in overtime, ending the game in a two to two deadlock. Medomak held a 21-12 edge in shots. Thompson made 10 saves for the Panthers and Gentry Burch 19 saves for the Tigers.
