Story

Published: Thursday, October 5, 2006

Scrappy Bulldogs tie high-ranked Tigers

Print Story

Email to Friend

Discuss this story

Howland (10-1-1) is ranked ninth in the state in Division I.

By DOUG CHAPIN

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

HOWLAND — Rated ninth in the state in Division I coming into Tuesday's match, the Howland High boys soccer team dominated for much of the game but was held to a 1-1 tie against Poland.

The Bulldogs (5-4-3, 4-2-3 Metro Athletic Conference) got an early goal from Brian Garcar, then managed to unleash only four shots.

Howland, meanwhile, fired off 26 shots, but only one — by Sean Gerin late in the first half — found the mark.

Howland (10-1-1, 8-0-1) coach George Stevens said he was not disappointed with the result because his team played well.

Compliment

"We don't feel disappointed about the result," Stevens said. "Poland, despite their record, is a quality team and they played us well down at their place.

They are a good team," Stevens said. "If we had not played well, we would have been disappointed. But we played as well as we can and sometimes things just don't go your way."

Coach Brad Sackella of Poland also was pleased.

"It was a great performance by both Poland and Howland," Sackella said. "We have a lot of respect for them and I'd like to think they respect us. It was a good, clean, hard-fought game."

Poland goalkeeper Thomas Lange made 14 saves and Howland's Paul Burley made three, including a spectacular stop four minutes into the second half.

The Bulldogs' Ryan Rovnak found himself open after a scramble off a corner kick. Rovnak fired from about 15 yards out, but Burley left his feet to make the stop.

Poland's only other good scoring opportunity came in the final minute of the match when Ryan Storkel's shot hit the side of the net.

Tigers' other chances

Howland, meanwhile, had several excellent chances but Lange was up to the task with 14 saves.

"We know Poland's defense is good and we knew they would play the way they did," Stevens said. "I think they executed their game plan well. I think we did too. We played hard and we played a good game. Sometimes it's tough coming back from a 1-0 deficit."

The Bulldogs took that lead with 33:46 left in the first half as a wide-open Garcar put away an excellent cross from Brian Witt. Gerin had missed high on a similar play for Howland just minutes earlier off a cross by Ryan Gerin.

Sean Gerin also missed high from the top of the penalty area with 23 minutes left in the half and delivered a good give-and-go pass to Zack Byler who missed wide with less than four minutes left in the half.

At the 2:47 mark, though, Gerin re-directed Byler's low throw-in just inside the near post for Howland's score.

Less than a minute later, Lange was forced to make a diving stop of another shot by Gerin from about 18 yards.

Praise

"Sean Gerin in center midfield did a tremendous amount of work," Stevens said. "The save Paul Burley made was the best save I've seen all year."

Sackella also had praise for his keeper.

"Thomas Lange was outstanding in goal and Brian Witt had a good game on the outside," Sackella said. "We are real young this year and I'm proud of the guys tonight.

"The momentum we've created over the course of the season and built on tonight will help us come tournament time. That's what we are building toward, the tournament."

Thursday, October 5, 2006