THE DALLES teammates Jack Bonham (left) and Dylan DesRochers play defense on Mac-Hi forward Carlos Epifanio during the second half of Tuesday’s boys’ soccer game played at Wahtonka Field in The Dalles. Mac-Hi scored two goals in a span of seven minutes to secure a 2-1 comeback win.
THE DALLES teammates Jack Bonham (left) and Dylan DesRochers play defense on Mac-Hi forward Carlos Epifanio during the second half of Tuesday’s boys’ soccer game played at Wahtonka Field in The Dalles. Mac-Hi scored two goals in a span of seven minutes to secure a 2-1 comeback win.
For 68 minutes, The Dalles boys’ soccer team had control of matters with a 1-0 lead over a tough Mac-Hi squad.
But, in a span of seven minutes, Pioneer senior Miguel Rodriguez scored the tying and winning goals and the Mac-Hi defense held off TD in the final four minutes for a 2-1 non-league road win in The Dalles.
“We are not really mad about it, we are just disappointed that we lost,” said junior Aldo Manzo. “We had the lead and we had them right there, but we let it get away. That’s Futbol, it happens.”
The Dalles had the early edge against Mac-Hi with speed creating scoring chances.
One of those opportunities were cashed in at the seven-minute mark of the first half, as Pedro Lopez scored a goal on an assist from Manzo.
On a loose ball, Manzo beat two Pioneer defenders and made a dash to the front of the goal.
Manzo then tipped a pass to Lopez, who hit his shot to the back of the net for the goal and a 1-0 Hawk lead.
In the opening half, the hawks had a few other scoring chances, but could not convert on Mac-Hi goalkeeper Jesus Vela.
Still ahead 1-0 midway through the second half, The Dalles were able to sustain some pressure, but the Pioneer counter-attack proved to be dangerous.
Rodriguez had two breakaway shots go wide off TD goalkeeper Angel Lopez.
The Pioneer senior finally had his work pay off in the 69th minute, as he dribbled inside the penalty area and hit a shot over Lopez’s head for the tying goal.
At the 76-minute mark, a TD penalty gave Mac-Hi junior Eduardo Corona a free shot from 25 yards out.
Corona lofted his pass in the air and Rodriguez redirected the pass with his head over the outstretched arms of Lopez for the eventual game-winning tally.
“We just showed our inexperience in closing out a game,” Burkart said. “I think it looked like we got a little bit tired and we weren’t able to mentally overcome that. Overall, we played OK. We moved the ball better, we played better Futbol. At the end of the day, it is about results and that was a tough one we let get away.”
Manzo said the team will continue to work on things.
“I think it all starts with them questioning themselves what they are doing at practice. Are you putting in the type of effort that is going to let you go physically and mentally 80 strong minutes?” Burkart said. “I think if we are honest with ourselves, there are not many guys that can say that they have. We will address that and we look forward to a response tomorrow at practice.”
TD (1-1 overall) travels to St. Helens for a game at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
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