RICHMOND — The Greater Portland Christian boys soccer team scored the first and last goals in its Class D semifinal Friday. In between it was a whole lot of Richmond.
The top-seeded Bobcats (15-0-0) scored five times in the first half and added three in the second en route to an 8-2 win and a spot in Wednesday’s Western Maine regional final against either Searsport or Bucksport. Fourth-seeded Greater Portland Christian finishes at 11-3-1.
These teams didn’t play in the regular season, but based on common opponents Wednesday’s meeting figured to be competitive. And it began that way as sophomore Ethan Spaulding put the Lions on the board with just under 10 minutes gone when his shot deflected off a defender into the goal.
Less than two minutes later, Richmond sophomore Brendan Emmons answered with a fine individual effort, dribbling into the middle and beating keeper Mason Jones. That was all the momentum the Bobcats needed.
“It was pretty tough at the start,” Richmond sophomore Cody Tribbet said. “Once we got rolling and passing the ball, we finished.”
Tribbet and senior Marcus Blake each scored three goals but this win was a team effort.
“There’s no particular one that someone is going to (mark),” Richmond Coach Peter Gardner said.
Tribbet made it 2-1 with 16:12 left in the half.
Curtis Anderson came off the bench midway through the half and it didn’t take him long to get going. Two minutes after Tribbet’s score he shot into an open net when Jones got caught in between staying home or going for the ball. Tribbet got a bit of a gift when his shot broke through Jones to make it 4-1. Blake made it 5-1 with 41 seconds left in the half.
That score quashed any comeback hopes by the Lions .
“I thought we did some nice things out there but I still think there’s room (for improvement),” Gardner said. “But I think they do too and that’s what kind of nice.”
The Bobcats finished with 17 shots to six for the Lions. Richmond keeper Zach Small made three saves while two GPCshots were stopped by defenders.
The game was halted in the closing minutes after Richmond sweeper Tyler Soucy injured his neck in a mid-air collision. Gardner wasn’t sure if the junior would be available for thre next game.
“I hope so,” the coach said. “He’s a big part of what we do.”
Spaulding scored again with 33 seconds left.
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