BERLIN- Worcester Prep’s boys’ varsity soccer team lost a tough one to visiting Sussex Tech on Tuesday after surrendering three goals in a span of just over a minute during a frantic stretch of the second half.
The Mallards scored early on a goal by Ryan Nally just four minutes into the contest for their only lead of the game. Sussex Tech countered with a goal with about 22 minutes left in the first half and score remained tied at 1-1 through much of the period.
Worcester’s offense had numerous opportunities throughout the rest of the first half, but could not break through. Sussex Tech took a 2-1 lead with just over four minutes remaining in the first half and appeared poised to take a lead into intermission when the Mallards got a late goal to even the score.
With under a minute remaining in the first half, Worcester’s Noah Conboy launched a hard shot from the perimeter that the Sussex Tech keeper blocked. However, the ball caromed away from the goaltender briefly and Worcester’s Elio Telo one-timed the rebound past the diving Ravens’ keeper to tie the score at 2-2 just before the half.
Both teams had great scoring chances early in the second half, including a hard shot from outside by the Ravens that clanked off the crossbar. Worcester also had great chances early in the second half, but couldn’t convert. With just over 31 minutes left, Sussex Tech broke through with a goal to take a 3-2 lead.
At the 27:35 mark in the second half, Sussex Tech was called for a hand-ball in the box resulting in a direct penalty kick. Worcester’s J.B. Loomis fired a hard shot, but the Ravens’ keeper blocked it. The ball caromed back toward a charging Loomis, who fired it into the back of the net to tie the game again at 3-3.
Sussex Tech continued to force the issue in its own offensive end including another long shot that caromed off the crossbar. With 23:49 remaining in the game, Sussex Tech launched a long shot that glanced off the right post and into the goal to give the Ravens a 4-3 lead they would not relinquish. The goal was the first of three for Sussex Tech in a span of just over a minute to decide the contest once and for all.
Sussex Tech scored again with 23:12 remaining in the game and added another tally less than a minute later at 22:15 to extend the lead to 6-3. Worcester continued to apply pressure through the rest of the contest, but could not break through and the game ended 6-3.