TSA Boys Lose In Double O.T.

By Laurie-Jean B. Gauthier

The second seeded TSA Phoenix boys faced the 15^th seeded Cabot Huskies in playoff action last Tuesday in Sharon and defeated their guests in a one-goal shutout that advances TSA to the quarter-finals. Sharon went on to face the seventh seeded Richford Falcons.

Sam Polas scored the lone goal just inside the 6-yard line for a short and sweet deposit. Michael Ward-Young assisted the play. Brad Farrell tended the strings and was not tested.

Quarter Final Loss

There is no joy in Phoenixville, where the number two Sharon Academy lost in the quarter-finals to the number seven Richford Falcons last Friday afternoon in Sharon.

A cross deposit by Richford's Cody Mercy just five minutes into the game put TSA in a come-from-behind position which they were stuck with until the final 10 minutes of the first half. Colin Pope re-entered the game, with the directive from Coach Rob Stainton to "give me your best 10 minutes ever," and that's just what the feisty kid did. Just 20 seconds later, Pope chested a Danny Moore throw-in to score and even up the game.

In a game that was simply a match-up in stature, physically as well as skillfully, it was Sharon who set the pace through much of the game. And it was Sharon whose possession of the ball allowed the Phoenix to out- shoot their guests 14 to 3 during the first half.

Unfortunately for the Phoenix, the Richford team was able to halt any progress TSA made towards the nets with a solid defensive back line that managed to double and triple team both Pope and Hannes Fischer-Byrne, when either one or the other was right on the money and in striking distance, usually directly in front of the goalie. Before Pope succeeded with the deposit, TSA blasted eight perfectly executed shots on goal that Falcon goalie Cameron Sheltra scarfed up, frustrating the Phoenix.

During the scoreless second half, it was more of the same as TSA continued to charge toward the cage while Richford pursued their opponents and successfully halted their progress. Richford too made forward marches toward the nets, but good clearing boots and solid goal tending by Brad Farrell kept the Falcons out in the cold. Just once in regulation did Richford come even close to scoring, after their initial goal, when a kick on the left side of the top of the penalty area rolled diagonally past the right post, too close for comfort.

Tied 1-1 after 80 minutes, the game went into overtime. With nothing to show for their efforts in the first 10 extra minutes, it was on to the second overtime, where the Falcons were able to best TSA just over one minute in. Alex Hango delivered the bomb that stunned goalie Brad Farrell, and everybody else for that matter, with what was unquestionably the goal that nobody saw coming. So stunned were both teams, that it didn't register that Richford had, in fact, won the game with the sudden death goal.

TSA ends the season at 13-3, which gives the school their best record ever.

Richford improves to 9-6-1 and will face the 10-5-1 Arlington Eagles.

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