Lake Park gets even against Neuqua Valley

Given its recent offensive struggles, Lake Park's boys soccer team will take goals any way it can get them.

So when junior Tim Adelman knocked home a shot off a Neuqua Valley defender following a throw-in 70 minutes into the Lancers' match against the Wildcats on Tuesday night, no one on the Lake Park sideline cared much about the lack of style points.

Adelman's goal came less than five minutes after Neuqua Valley senior Pat Doody converted a penalty kick, and ultimately gave the Lancers a 1-1 draw on senior night in Roselle.

“We've stuggled to score lately, Lake Park (9-6-6, 2-1-3 Upstate Eight Conference) coach Norm Hillner said. “We'll take them any way we can get them.

Neuqua Valley (11-3-3, 4-0-2 UEC) finally capitalized on its possession game with 15:20 remaining in the second half. Wildcats senior forward Will Butler, deep in the offensive third, found Doody, who made a move around a Lancers defender and drew the penalty kick.

Doody placed the kick along the ground to the back left corner, giving Neuqua Valley a seemingly safe 1-0 advantage.

However, just 4:32 later, Brendan Feeney's throw-in landed on Adelman's foot and promptly found the back of the net.

An adjustment at halftime led Adelman to the right position at the right time.

“At halftime we were saying that all the throw-ins were running through the six, so someone was going to have to be on the back post, Adelman said. “I was always dropping back on the other side, so it was my turn. I just said, ‘If the ball comes through, I'm going to finish.'

Neuqua Valley nearly took a 1-0 lead just three minutes into the second half after Doody fired a corner kick in front of the Lancers' net. Wildcats senior A.K. Karkazis settled the serve before blasting a shot off the underside of the crossbar.

“The game of soccer is about scoring goals, but we did such a good job in possession, knocking the ball and creating chances, and were just a little bit snakebit around the goal, Wildcats coach Tony Kees said. “We knocked on the door all night, but we lacked the finishing touch tonight.

With the playoffs starting in one week, Lake Park looks to build on its late-game comeback against one of the state's elite programs.

“It's like a victory, Adelman said. “We went down, and then we came back, and that shows we can compete with the teams at the top.