WESTBROOK — After losing five of its last six games, the Thornton Academy boys soccer team got a much-needed win against Westbrook Monday.
Aaron Sinclair scored four minutes into the game, and freshmen Brandon Lasante and Bryson Geary also scored for the Trojans, as they beat the Blue Blazes 3-0.
With the Trojans clinging to the final playoff spot, they had a good opportunity to get back on track as they faced a winless Westbrook. Sinclair gave them an early 1-0 advantage when he cradled a bouncing ball, dribbled toward the net and laced a shot past Westbrook goalie Austin Blake.
“It’s great for us. It gives us confidence and momentum,” Thornton head coach Andy Carlson said. “You don’t want a team that’s struggling to kind of hang around. So if you get one on the board relatively early, it sets the tone a little bit. You’ll settle in and try to build off of that.”
The Trojans kept the pressure and intensity up after the goal, keeping much of the possession in the attacking end. Darius Nytacyo nearly doubled the lead 10 minutes in on a looping shot from 25 yards out. The ball hit the bottom of the crossbar, bounced straight down, and then popped out of the goal mouth. Carlson argued that the ball crossed the goal line, but to no avail.
Thornton pressured Blake to make saves, and for much of the half, he did. Willie Caras had an open chance in the box, but sent a shot straight at Blake. Lasante tried redirecting a cross from Liam Eisnhauer for a goal, but Blake again had perfect position.
Lasante had a second chance at a redirect later in the half, and this time Blake had no chance. Paul Arabatzis sent in a cross from the left side, and Lasante got a foot on it from 10 yards out and casually flipped it into the corner of the net.
“It was a good cross by Paul, and I just tapped it in,” said Lasante. “I think it was more just a lucky touch.”
Geary scored his goal in the second half without even touching the ball. Tyler Lebel sent a ball out of the defensive end to Geary up top. Geary and Westbrook defender Junior Suk were in a foot race, and Suk booted the ball toward his own net to give Blake a chance to clear. Suk’s kick went in the air and looped over Blake’s head and into the net for an own goal.
The win moved the Trojans to 5-6 on the season, with three games to go. They face a quick turnaround, as they play at South Portland today before finishing up against Sanford and Portland. The Bulldogs are right behind Thornton in the heal points as the season winds down.
“It would be great if we can get a few wins strung together here, and try to get some momentum, and maybe sneak into the playoffs,” said Carlson.
— Contact Wil Kramlich at 282-1535, Ext. 323 or follow him on Twitter @WilTalkSports.
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