Pictured above: Dunmore’s Conor Toole dribbles toward the Holy Cross defense in the first half Monday night. (Tom Robinson Photo)
By Tom Robinson, NEPASportsNation.com
DUNMORE – Maynor Castro-Lemus and Tommy Clark scored in the first 6:08 of the second half Monday night to lead Dunmore back from a three-goal deficit to force a 3-3 tie with Holy Cross and a tie atop the final Lackawanna League Division 2 boys soccer standings.
Brian Santarsiero completed the comeback before the midway point of the second half, then the teams remained deadlocked for 45:40, through a pair of overtimes, without scoring again.
Dunmore also came out strong in the first half at Schautz Stadium against District 2’s only unbeaten soccer team – boys or girls.
Holy Cross countered, however, by scoring on its first two shots on the way to the 3-0 halftime lead.
Drew Smith scored twice for the Crusaders while Ron Prislupski had a goal and two assist.
Holy Cross, the No. 1 Small School boys team in the Riverfront United Super Six Soccer Power Rankings of District 2 teams, remained unbeaten at 12-0-2. Second-ranked Dunmore (15-1-2) ran its unbeaten streak to 17 games.
Both finished 10-0-2 in the division.
Dunmore had the distinct advantage in shots and corner kicks, particularly early.
The Bucks had two corner kicks and a shot in the first minute and also had the game’s next shot.
But, the Crusaders made the most of a direct kick from the left wing.
Prislupski sent the ball curving toward the right post where Smith headed it in for the first score 8:49 into the game.
Dunmore ran the advantage to 7-0 in corner kicks and 6-1 in shots before Prislupski weaved his way through four defenders to score with 17:30 left in the half.
That sparked the strongest Holy Cross stretch of the game.
Over a span of 17 minutes, the Crusaders outshot the Bucks, 6-2, and had the game’s only three corner kicks.
Dunmore goalie Andy Haser helped limit the damage when he stopped a Prislupski penalty kick with 15:35 left in the half.
The Bucks defense had the ball almost cleared on a corner kick when Prislupski gained control and dribbled toward the right corner. From there, Prislupski sent the ball in front where Smith went up above the crowd to again score on a header with 12:05 left.
That was the last goal Dunmore allowed as the Bucks limited opportunities the rest of the way while working back into the tie.
The teams also tied, 3-3, in their first meeting.
