Pictured above: Dunmore’s Maynor Castro-Lemus (front) battles for the ball with Aiden Krieger from Holy Cross. (Tim Drewes Photo)
SCRANTON – Maynor Castro-Lemus and Brian Santarsiero scored two goals each Thursday night to lead Dunmore past Holy Cross, 4-2, at Scranton Memorial Stadium, lifting the Bucks to their first boys soccer division title in 23 years.
Castro-Lemus and Santarsiero offset two goals by Holy Cross freshman Jamie Prislupski in a Lackawanna League Division 2 playoff game that was necessitated by each team going 10-0-2 in the division with the two ties coming against each other.
The Bucks and Crusaders were tied again for more than half of Thursday’s game, remaining scoreless for 23:10 and then after Prislupski countered go-ahead Dunmore goals twice.
Castro-Lemus scored off an assist from Quinn Davis with 16:50 left in the first half.
Prislupski tied the game 1:47 later.
Santarsiero put the Bucks in front 2-1 at halftime by scoring with 2:40 left.
Prislupski, the younger brother of league scoring leader Ron Prisupski, tied it again each in the second half. Ron Prislupski, who played through injury late in the season, was rested by coach Joe Dodgson with district and state playoffs coming up.
Max Hunt assisted both Dunmore goals as the Bucks emerged with the title.
Castro-Lemus scored the game-winning goal with 28:51 left.
Hunt worked along the end line to the right of the goal and sent the ball to Santarsiero, who scored from close range in front for a late insurance goal.
Both teams are top seeds for the District 2 playoffs, which open Monday.
Dunmore hosts Western Wayne in a Class 2A quarterfinal at 6 p.m.
Defending champion Holy Cross plays MMI Prep in a Class A quarterfinal at 6:45. The Crusaders are coming off their first loss of the season.
EDITOR’S NOTE: NEPA Student Journalist Spencer Decker contributed to this report.
MORE COVERAGE
Photo Gallery by Tim Drewes: Dunmore/Holy Cross boys soccer photo gallery – NEPA Sports Nation
