Dialog reporter
MILLTOWN – St. Mark’s soccer team climbed out of a big hole in its nonconference game against Laurel on Oct. 17, eventually sending the contest to overtime. But the Bulldogs made sure the long trip from Sussex County was worth the time, scoring in the 94th minute to head home with a thrilling 5-4 victory.
Matt Ziomek tied the contest at 3-3 early in the second half with his second goal of the afternoon, setting the stage for the exciting finish. On a Spartans counter-attack, Ziomek sent a left-footed shot from the top of the 18-yard box past Bulldogs goalkeeper Jailon Gillespie. The ball struck the post, then spun into the net.
Gillespie and St. Mark’s keeper Sean Lenderman kept the score tied until the final minutes, with each making impressive saves. Craig Rice put Laurel back on top in the 78th minute, dribbling around a defender and beating Lenderman far side from in close. But the Bulldogs’ elation was short-lived.
As time wound down, the Spartans scrambled to try to score the tying goal. A throw-in was tapped out of the crease, but Santiago Sanguino saved it to Matt Johnson. Johnson’s shot appeared to hit a player or two on its way, but it found the net, giving the Spartans reason to celebrate. The whistle ending regulation blew about 10 seconds later.
Neither team could do much in the first 10-minute, sudden-death overtime, sending the contest to a final 10-minute extra session. This time, Rice nearly ended the game in the 93rd minute with a backward header that sailed just wide. A minute later, Santos Rodas caught up to a loose ball in the corner to the right of Lenderman, sent a crossing pass through the crease and on to the foot of Wilder Gonzalez-Perez. He buried it – his second tally of the day – and helped Laurel improve to 10-1.
Early on, it appeared there would be no need for last-minute heroics. The Bulldogs came out on fire, beating St. Mark’s to loose balls all over the field and creating multiple offensive opportunities. Rodas got them on the board in the fifth minute, and Brighten Conway chipped one in in the 14th to make it 2-0. The Spartans found some offense, but Laurel struck again in the 26th as Gonzalez-Perez stole a clearing pass and went to the upper 90 on the far side.
The Spartans’ comeback began in the 36th minute when Peter Coker scored off a corner kick from the top of the 18-yard box. A penalty inside that box in stoppage time paid off, as Ziomek converted a penalty kick as time wound down.
The Bulldogs outshot St. Mark’s, 13-10, and had four corner kicks to the Spartans’ one. Lenderman was credited with seven saves, several of the acrobatic variety, while Gillespie had four. The Spartans (7-4-1) travel to William Penn on Saturday at 1 p.m. Laurel, winners of nine straight, will attempt to keep its impressive season going next Tuesday at 5:30 at home against Indian River. The winner of that one will have the inside track to the Henlopen South championship.
