CUMBERLAND — Greely’s boys’ soccer team made the most of its opportunities Thursday evening at Glenn Hutchins Field.
The Rangers put just six shots on goal, but scored on four to earn a pivotal, Heal points-rich, 4-1 victory over Cape Elizabeth.
Greely got a pair of goals from Bez Mendelsohn on penalty kicks and scored twice in the first seven minutes of the second half to break open a close game as it improved to 7-3-1 and moved into the No. 3 spot in the Class B South standings.
“We want to be an elite team and elite teams don’t take games off,” said Rangers Coach Mike Andreasen. “We took advantage of our chances. This was a big win for us, especially for seeding.”
The Capers (6-3-1) controlled play for much of the first half, but found themselves down a goal at the break.
The Rangers struck first, in the 15th minute, when Owen Piesik got to a ball in the box, got around Cape Elizabeth goalkeeper Raef Curran (two saves) and finished.
Cape Elizabeth quickly countered a minute later as Alex van Huystee served in a corner kick and Tully Haydar banged it home, just inside the near post.
But with 16:23 left in the half, Piesik was fouled in the box, a penalty kick was awarded and Mendelsohn sent it into the net to put Greely on top to stay.
“I was just making sure I was in the zone because their goalie was talking to me,” said Mendelsohn.
The Rangers then shocked the Capers 15 seconds into the second half as a failed clear came up top to Aaron Park, who settled the ball, then beat a diving Curran for a 3-1 advantage.
“I just saw the ball bounce out to me,” Park. “I took a touch, had a good finish and celebrated with my teammates. It was a gift, but I think we deserved it. We worked hard.”
With Greely’s defense and goalkeeper Landon Dominski (three saves) shutting Cape Elizabeth down from there, Mendelsohn ended any lingering doubt with 33:32 to play. After Owen Partridge was fouled in the box on a corner kick, Mendelsohn again beat Curran on a PK, this time with a solid shot just past the keeper’s outstretched hand.
“A second PK is really tough,” Mendelsohn said. “The goalie already knows where I went the first time, so it was that much harder. I put it in the same place, but I put as much power as I could on it.”
The Capers, who had beaten the Rangers four straight times, dropped into the No. 6 spot in Class B South.
“The first half we played well and had plenty of possession, but we weren’t very dangerous,” said Cape Elizabeth Coach Ben Raymond. “It’s something we need to work on. We have to get into a groove. We’re dealing with some injuries and it affects us more than we think. Greely played really well today and they definitely outworked us in the second half.”
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