La Salle rallies, tops Prep
For Spencer Patton, every second that ticked off the scoreboard clock at Lower Bartley Field felt like a minute. His La Salle soccer team was up a goal in a taut game against visiting St. Joseph's Prep, and the final few minutes dragged on and on for the sophomore tricaptain.
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For Spencer Patton, every second that ticked off the scoreboard clock at Lower Bartley Field felt like a minute.
His La Salle soccer team was up a goal in a taut game against visiting St. Joseph's Prep, and the final few minutes dragged on and on for the sophomore tricaptain.
Every cleared ball didn't seem to go far enough, and every free kick for the Hawks looked like a dangerous opportunity.
But then the whistle finally blew Tuesday afternoon, and the Explorers' 2-1, come-from-behind win was complete, propelled by two goals in a four-minute span of the Catholic League game.
Brett Hladczuk, a junior midfielder who netted the equalizer with 11 minutes remaining, credited La Salle's surge to "quite the pep talk" at halftime.
It was a pep talk in which the coaching staff told the Explorers to show some heart on the field.
La Salle (7-2-2 overall, 6-0 league) really was a different team in the final 40 minutes. The Explorers came out ready to attack the Hawks (2-3-3, 2-2).
Conversely, the first half belonged to St. Joe's Prep.
"We were a lot louder. We came out and battled hard. We won 50-50 balls," Patton said of the second half. "Everyone played offense, everyone played defense, and we just got shots off. Every once in a while, they have to go in."
A formation change also helped La Salle. Patton was moved up top with Tyler Colasanto, giving the Explorers two forwards, instead of just one, to face Hawks defenders.
The combination proved fruitful for the Explorers; Colasanto created the opportunity for Patton to score the winner with just seven minutes remaining.
"Our momentum was incredible," Hladczuk said. "We just kept pushing, and our whole team was rallying."
Colasanto challenged Frank Maniscalco, the Hawks keeper, and was able to get a touch. Patton corralled the ball and hit it in the back of the net to put La Salle ahead.
"It is just instinct," Patton said. "It's second nature."
St. Joseph's Prep 1 0 – 1
La Salle 0 2 – 2
Goals: SJP-Mike Carr; LS-Brett Hladczuk, Spencer Patton
Saves: SJP-Frank Maniscalco 5; LS-Clint Ormsby 2.