A tough loss to the Concord High Crimson Tide, followed by a slim win over the Bedford High Bulldogs, sent coach Kerry Boles and his Pinkerton Academy boys’ soccer team into last weekend contemplating their 3-1 divisional record.
The Astro booters absorbed their first loss of the season Tuesday, Sept. 9, when they traveled to the state capital and were handed a 2-0 blanking by the host Concord High Crimson Tide.
The hosts potted one goal in the waning moments of the first period and an insurance marker some 25 minutes into the second half to move their season record to 3-1 and make Pinkerton’s 2014 mark 2-1.
PA goalie Hayden Pavao turned aside eight Crimson Tide shots in helping to keep his team in the fray.
“Concord outplayed us for a majority of the game,” said Boles. “We were fortunate to only see a one-goal deficit at the half. We did have some opportunities, but we did not capitalize. Concord is a top four and likely final four team. We have some work to do if we want to be in that discussion. Unfortunately, we don’t get any rest because we face another contender Bedford on Friday.”
Despite the fact that his crew was on the down side of the decision in the Concord contest, Boles said Kyle Hicks, Stuart Graves, and Sean Donohue played particularly well for his side.
The Astros returned to the winning path Friday, Sept. 12, with a 3-2 overtime edging of the visiting Bedford bunch.
Freshman Cole Perry busted a 2-2 deadlock three minutes into OT – his first high school goal – to hand his side the 3-2 victory.
“This was not our best performance, but it was enough to get by,” said Boles. “It’s nice that we were able to come from behind again today, but we need to start playing with a lead for a change. This was a good victory against a good team.”
Both sides netted a goal in the first half, with Bedford doing so a mere three minutes into the fray and Pinkerton answering 27 minutes later on a Cobi Moore goal set up by Alex Ebner.
The Astros nabbed their first lead of the day eight minutes into the second half when Kyle Hicks was set up by Sean Donohue, but the Bulldogs knotted the score at 2-2 some 20 minutes into the second period, and the score remained right there until Moore set up Perry for the winner early in the extra stanza.
Pavao turned aside 10 Bedford shots in making a significant contribution to the PA victory.
Boles praised senior captain Kyle Hicks, junior Colin Coutts, senior Chris Ronan, and junior Conor Rathburn for their strong work in the victory.
The team’s next opponents will be the 3-1 Central High Little Green on Thursday, Sept. 18, at Gill Stadium, followed by Salem High School’s Blue Devils (2-2) at home on Saturday, Sept. 20, on the girls soccer field.
