For the second time in as many years the Londonderry High School Boys’ Soccer squad had their season come to an end on penalty kicks after a 2-2 tie in regulation and two scoreless overtime periods.
The Lancers faced Nashua North, the number 14 seed, at home in the first round of the NHIAA Division I playoffs on Wednesday, Oct. 30. On what started as a very slippery, damp surface, due to overnight rain.
The game got off to a very positive start for the Lancers, scoring two unanswered goals in the first half, where the LHS crew looked to be dominating the overall play.
Senior Zach Mantegari scored the first playoff goal at 8:25 on a pass from senior Tiago Keyes just to the left of the Titan’s net.
Londonderry went ahead 2-0 at 15:59 when sophomore defender, Will Gingrow, put the ball past the Nashua tender, assisted by Zach Mantegari.
The second half was a different story, with the Titans scoring at 9:50 and tying the game in the 29th minute.
The Lancers offense was unable to regain the lead despite a number of golden opportunities close to the Nashua goal.
The tying goal by the Titans came on a penalty kick.
Deep into the second half, Londonderry had the go-ahead goal waived off by the officials for an off sides call.
The teams went through two overtime periods, where the Titans defense held their ground and despite Londonderry having 15 shots on net to the Titans’ two, the teams headed to a shootout.
In that shootout, junior Mike Totten and Gingrow put their team up 2-1 with senior tender Noah Celio making three terrific stops.
Unfortunately, that would be all the scoring and saves made for the Londonderry side, as Nashua was able to get three in over Londonderry’s two.
LHS’ head coach responded after the game, “Unfortunately, we were not able to extend our lead in the second half and North hung in there. There were opportunities for us to turn things around, but it was just not meant to be. We had a tremendous season, with a lot of great highlights, but it was not the end we were hoping for.”
Nashua was defeated 1-0 in the next round by Keene, the number six seed.