LAKEWOOD What began as a low intensity soccer match, escalated into a defensive battle and produced a magnificent game-winning goal. The March 29 clash between the Granite Falls Tigers and Lakewood Cougars went Lakewoods way, 2-0.
At the start of the match both teams appeared hesitant to push forward. With plenty of play in the midfield and drop passes to defenders nobody wanted to take charge. As usual, Lakewoods dynamic trio of Eric Hawks, Lucas Antonnascio and Craig Hooks controlled the midfield even in sloppy weather conditions. However, they could not get anything going forward toward the Granite Falls net.
After 21 minutes, Lakewood produced their first real chance of the game as Evander Ochoa pushed a through ball on the left side up ahead to a streaking Andrew Escalante. Escalante boomed a low shot but Granite Falls keeper was up to the task, catching the blast, then dusting himself off with a satisfied grin.
Granite produced no chances up front at all, whether due to the stout Lakewood defense or their own hyper-conservative game plan. The Tigers contented themselves to contest balls in their own half of the field, while leaving a lone striker up front to go one-on-four with the Lakewood defense.
The game looked to be a defensive struggle, with Granite parrying every Lakewood challenge. Then out of nowhere in the 33rd minute, Kelvin Mansfield chipped the Granite Falls goalie from nearly 40 yards away. In one of the most spectacular goals imaginable at the high school level, Mansfield took a drop pass from a midfielder, reared back and let fly. The ball sailed in a perfect arc over the keeper and clipped the underside of the crossbar on its way to the back of the net. Even more remarkable was the fact that the goalie actually positioned himself properly on the play, he was simply beat by an ambitious shot. Mansfield and teammates celebrated at midfield as if theyd won the lottery.
The goal forced Granite to loosen up a bit and play more attacking soccer. This worked to Lakewoods advantage as the second half saw plenty of Lakewood chances up front, including a bending ball from Joseph Hawkins that barely missed the net from 25 yards out. In the 67th minute, Andrew Escalante headed in a perfectly placed Jeremy Webb cross in front of the net to give Lakewood a comfortable 2-0 margin of victory.
Lakewoods goalie Peter Karrenberg came through with a number of impressive saves in the waning moments of the game to preserve the shutout. Karrenberg filled in expertly for injured starter Kevin Hooks, who will return to practice this week.
Afterwards Karrenberg talked about the difference between the halves after Mansfields goal.
We were able to get wide in the second half to put more pressure up front.
The hero, Mansfield, modestly acknowledged the impressiveness of his strike.
I was actually shooting it, but I was surprised it went in.
So was Granite Falls and that one play changed the strategy for both squads. Mansfields tally gave a more offensively gifted Lakewood team all the space they needed in the second half to seal the victory.
Lakewoods next match is April 5 versus Coupeville.