Christian Liberty tops IMSA in OT
Josh Tolford sealed Christian Liberty Academy's comeback as the Chargers' boys soccer team stunned visiting Illinois Math and Science 2-1 in overtime on Thursday.
Chrisian Liberty (6-5-1 overall, 2-2-0 Northeastern Athletic) appeared to have run out of time in its bid to even the score in regulation when Jessie Castro brought the Chargers (6-5-1, 2-2-0) level with a minute left.
Tolford struck the game-winner just two minutes into the first extra period to give coach Aaron DeRidder's club an exciting conference victory.
"We played so much better in the second half, but it looked like all of that good soccer and great chances we created wouldn't be enough until Jessie got us back even to give us the opportunity to win it in overtime," said DeRidder, whose team has equaled its 2014 win total.
"(IMSA) was very good in the first half, and they scored that great goal, which looked like it would hold up," DeRidder said. "But I was very proud of the way the guys came out in the second half and put a lot of pressure on them, which finally helped us find a couple of goals."
A match that began with a gentle ebb and flow and ended with both sides swinging at each other like heavyweights in the final minutes came to life on a brilliant opening goal from Krishi Korrapati of IMSA (1-7-2) in the 24th minute on a header.
Korrapati's goal ended a wonderful sequence which began near the mid-line with Matthew Gombar and Gedi Njoya showing quick touches in tight space to get the Titans out of their own end before Njoya connected with Reid Fikejs at the far touchline.
"That was a great goal, but it's too bad we couldn't finish one or two of the others that we created to give us more of an advantage instead of trying to manage the lead for the next 50-55 minutes," said Titans coach Steve Lindquist.
Titans keeper, Ben Maher came to the rescue in the sixth minute to turn away a point-blank blast from Castro to give his club an early lift. Moments later, Chris Tinkler's well-timed tackle ended a potential 1-v-1 between Castro and Maher.
The Chargers opened the second half with better energy, and just after the opening whistle Nathan Patterson smacked the crossbar with a shot from 35 yards.
"That one looked to hit the bar and go over the end line, but none of us has the advantage of replay in this sport," DeRidder said with a smile.
The quickness of Patterson, Tolford, Isaiah Jaime and Castro ended up being too much for IMSA.
Castro was able to finish a Nico Ortez ball over the top to tie it before Tolford ended the match when he finished from in close.
The outcome snapped a two-game skid for the Chargers.
"The guys stayed with it, and it was nice to see their persistence and hard work pay off," said DeRidder.