A flat performance by the Avon Lake Shoremen ended in a 5-2 away defeat at the hands of the Bay Village Rockets.
Things got off on the wrong foot from the very beginning of the game for Avon Lake. Three minutes into the first half a high bouncing ball could not quite be cleared by the Shoremen defense and a Bay player got in behind and slotted it home.
Avon Lake just could not gain any traction offensively, and frequently lost possession in the midfield as the Rockets stepped up and applied pressure, not allowing the Shoremen to get comfortable. The lackluster play continued as Bay struck again in the 26th minute and then shortly thereafter in the 29th minute, and the rout was on.
The Shoremen were pressing to right the ship and earned a penalty kick in the 34th minute which senior Jack Lawniczak finished to the upper right corner to make it 3-1. The goal was his 3rd of the season.
The halftime team talk and adjustments yielded little tangible results on the field as the second half picked up where the first half left off. Instead of the Shoremen pulling back an early goal to get back in the game, the Rockets scored again in the 55th minute. In the 68th minute the final nail in the coffin was hammered home by Bay, making it 5-1.
Avon Lake scored a consolation goal in the last minute of the game on a short through ball from Lawniczak to fellow senior Nick Daggett, to give us our final score of 5-2. The goal was Daggett’s team-leading 7th of the year and Lawniczak’s team-leading 9th assist. Varsity is now 5-2-3 after the loss, their second in three games.
“It’s disappointing,” said coach Pete Klepek. “The early goal was tough to give up, but more frustrating was our response to that goal. We never found our game and were outclassed tonight by a young Bay team.”
JV won the early game 3-0 in a dominant performance which included goals by freshman Tyler Johnson and Liam Reutter, and a brilliant free kick by junior Michael Mandel. They are 8-1-1 on the year.
Avon Lake are back in action on Wednesday at home against SWC for Amherst. Games are at 5pm and 7pm.
Stats and storylines submitted to NEOSI by Carl Segura of Avon Lake.
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