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Post date: Oct 2, 2014 2:21:07 PM
NORTHBORO, MA -- Groton-Dunstable head coach Sean Wisbey pulled a few of his starters a little earlier than usual, due to nagging injuries from the club's 0-0 draw Saturday at Sutton. Tuesday's match, in the grand scheme of things, meant nothing to the Crusaders other than pride.
"The team is finding it hard to accept the loss tonight," Wisbey said. "'I asked the guys after the game what the importance of this game is?' This game maybe would have bumped us up in the rankings, but in actuality, those are meaningless. I realize with three tough games this week, it is better to save our starters. Overall, I am not disappointed with tonight's result. We still put in five goals on their starters -- we are making progress."
No. 5 Groton-Dunstable held a two-goal advantage a third of the way through the first half, but the No. 2 ranked Tomahawks weathered the storm to defeat the Crusaders, 7-5, in a soggy non-league clash in Northboro.
"Honestly, I felt that we were the better team in the first 30 minutes," Wisbey said. "There is no question, we played some amazing soccer. If i can have the boys up their consistency and play the way they did in the first half for a full 80 minutes, I don't think anybody can beat us. Our passes were crisp and shape was good."
Seven-minutes into the opening half, Groton-Dunstable stunned the Tomahawks with a rapid strike from Matt Krikorian, who received a well-timed set-piece from Matt Straw.
Straw dribbled the ball to the top of the 18-yard box and crossed it to Krikorian, who whirled it home into the low-left corner of the net to give the Crusaders a 1-0 lead.
Groton-Dunstable controlled the pace of the match for much of the opening half, and it once again broke through in the 13th minute on a goal by Tyler Belanger. Belanger cleaned up the wreckage in front of the net after back-to-back strikes from Gabe Dingle and Matt Tornaritis rattled the woodwork.
Belanger settled the ball and deposited a low-curling shot inside the left post to make it 2-0 Groton-Dunstable.
The Crusaders appeared to be in the driver's seat, but Tomahawk midfielder Max Michaud had other plans. Exactly one-minute after the Groton-Dunstable goal, Michaud corralled a pass from Dom Cianci and buried it over the outstretched mitts of G-D goalkeeper Chris Buzan to bring Algonquin back within a goal.
Algonquin potted the equalizer in the 25th minute off a goal from Tomahawk captain Tyler Morin. Morin's initial shot was stopped by the sliding Buzan, but his persistence paid off on the second attempt to make it 2-2.
Groton-Dunstable added a goal in the 30th minute on an assist from Mitch Wheeler to Matt Tornaritis. Wheeler connected with Tornaritis on a cross and the savvy senior blasted it home to regain the one-goal advantage for the Crusaders.
The Tomahawks tallied goals with under two-minutes remaining on goals from Morin (penalty kick) and Joe Wallace. Wallace flicked the ball home off a Morin corner kick that was sent in from the right side.
Algonquin held a 4-3 lead at halftime.
Groton-Dunstable's Evan Lexo and senior captain Tim Hilbrunner netted goals late in the half, but it was not enough. Cianci, Michaud and an own goal helped provide the difference for the Tomahawks, who remain perfect on the regular season.
"You don't ever want to give up seven goals, but that happens when it is wet like it was tonight," Wisbey said. "October starts now. In that experience of winning two state championships before, I just understand the big picture. The big picture is we don't need to go at Algonquin 100 miles-per-hour right now, but come time for the playoffs, we will be ready."
The Crusaders are back at it on Thursday afternoon against Shepherd Hill at 4pm and drop to 6-2-1 overall.
Follow Ed Niser on Twitter/Tout:@EdNiser
Scoring:
GD 7:12 1-0 Matt Krikorian (Matt Straw)
GD 12:34 2-0 Tyler Belanger (Gabe Dingle)
ALG 13:56 2-1 Michaud (Cianci)
ALG 25:14 2-2 Tyler Morin (Penalty Kick)
GD 30:17 3-2 Matt Tornairits (Mitch Wheeler)
ALG 38:00 3-3 Wallace (Morin)
ALG 39:54 4-3 Morin (Unassisted)
Half
ALG 48:48 5-3 Cianci (Mott)
ALG 54:13 6-3 Michaud (Cianci)
GD 67:57 6-4 Hilbrunner (Wheeler)
ALG 71:00 7-4 Morin (Unassisted)
GD 75:00 7-5 Evan Lexo (Unassisted)
Shots favored ALG 17-13
Corner Kicks ALG 5-2
Fouls GD 15-9
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