St. Thomas @ Lebanon
August 28, 2012

The Saints traveled to Lebanon to play their second game of the season.

This would be the first game for Lebanon.

The night before and most of the morning saw heavy rain in Lebanon.  When we arrived after our 2 hour bus ride we watched as field crews poured bags of speedi dry into the western goal mouth.  This seemed to be only bad part of the field though.  If it had been a home game our field probably would have been unplayable.

The saints lost the toss and started the game with the kick off.  St. Thomas took the field with a starting defense of Noah Schwaegerle, Sebastian Olsen, John Sweeny and Aaron Dubois.  Aaron was sporting a new padded cast on his wrist after breaking it in the Oyster River Game.  The midfield was Brian Ellis, Evan Surprenant, and TJ Tetreault and Tommy Griffiths.  Strikers Jon Nartiff and Eric Eames were on top.

The first half was a very hard played game from the start.  Lebanon was working to win their home and season opener and prove they still belonged as one of the leading teams in Division 2.
  The Saints were not going to make it easy for them.

Scott Lamoureux went in for Dubois after about 8 minutes.  Carrying the cast on a warm day was a lot to expect from Aaron.  Xavier Quinn and Simon Smith went in at outside midfield to keep the pressure fresh against the Raiders.   Guy Kassas went in for defense to start the rotation of rest for the back four.

Tony Kassas went in at striker and at one point he and Nartiff worked the ball through to what looked like a great chance but the Lebanon Keeper came up big with the save.   A few minutes later Quinn took a strike that hit the far post and just went outside instead of in as the groans came from the St. Thomas Bench.

Noah Guilfuchi and Beau Patteson went in at outside midfield and Jared Ham went in at defense.  The Saints were working hard to keep fresh legs in the game.

On the defensive end of the field Ben Mardin was making some spectacular saves and the St Thomas defense was coming up with some great stops to turn the ball into the counter attacks.  It looked as if at any moment either team could break through for a score, but the game remained tied 0-0 at halftime.

Lebanon took the kick for the start of the second half.  Right after he blew the whistle to start the half the ref blew it to call offside on the Raiders.  Lebanon was given a re-kick.  Coach had to explain to the bench that the only time you lose the kick off, if it is taken incorrectly, is if the kicker kicks it twice in a row. It's one of those obscure soccer rules that we will probably never see all season.

47:28 Mardin made an outstretched save that allowed the ball to rebound out and before the defense could clear it away #7 GW Wells-Bogue put it in the net for the Raiders.

Just like last game the Saints found themselves behind, but that only brought up the intensity even more.  It took a little longer than 45 seconds, but St. Thomas pressed the attack. At 64:42 Evan Surprenant took a throw in from the touchline near the Lebanon end of the field and the high arcing ball found Nartiff head in the crowd in front of the goal and it was redirected in to tie the game 1-1.

Several St. Thomas players were playing with aches and nagging minor injuries from the Oyster River game but the depth of the bench allowed for a rotation of fresh legs to keep up the pressure.  With 9 minutes left in the game #10 Jeffery Purdy of Lebanon took a direct kick from about 20 yards out.  the kick was right on goal and at Mardin, but instead of bouncing up it died in the mud and slid into the net.  The Raiders were back on Top. 2-1.  The final 8 minutes of the game saw real pressure by the Saints.  One high arching chip looked as if it were going out of bound just to the right of the Raiders net.  Out of nowhere Nartiff put on a burst of speed and was able to keep the ball in play and send it back to the far post.  It looked like this might be the best chance for the Saints and as the ball came down close to the goal line there was a scramble and Lebanon was able to clear it out. 

On the ensuing counter attack Mardin came off his line to catch the clear and as he caught the ball he also caught the charging Raider attacker with his shoulder.  Much to everyone's surprise the referee called a foul on Mardin and awarded a penalty kick to Lebanon.  The Lebanon player tried to stutter step to fake out Mardin, but he slipped in the mud and it caused him to stop his forward progress.  It also caused Mardin to come off his line.  Both of these offenses are illegal and should have draw a whistle to stop play but the referee allowed it to continue.  The strike was hard and true, but Mardin came up with a big save sending the ball off to the left of the goal.  The Kicker came sliding in cleats up and tried to punch in the rebound but it went wide past the scrambling Mardin.  The Referee never made any call except to award a goal kick to St. Thomas.

With the final minutes ticking away the Saints made one last final push trying to send the game into over time, but the final whistle sounded and the game ended with St. Thomas's first loss of the season.

Shots on Goal/Frame STA 8 Lebanon 9
Saves STA Mardin - 7  Lebanon - 5

St. Thomas will host Windham on Friday at 4pm.

Here is a post game interview of the Varsity Game with Ben Mardin and Scott Lamoureux

 (see it here if it doesn't load in your browser)

Here is a post game interview of the JV Game with
Coach Jason Suleski, Jack Quinn, Theo Psiridis and Andrew Savage

 

 (see it here if it doesn't load in your browser)

 

 

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