Patriots hang on to topple Mustangs at home

ROBBY FLETCHER Sports Editor

With the Mechanicsville Mustangs looking to add to a threegame winning streak and the Patrick Henry Patriots looking to climb to .500 after dropping their first two games of the season, a lot was on the line in the first matchup of the year between the Capital District foes.

The Mustangs entered the matchup having outscored their last three opponents 51-7, emerging as a fiery o ensive team that punishes would-be attacking threats once they reached midfield. Against the Patriots though, that energy was matched in a fast-paced, physical game that ended with a much-needed 13-10 victory for the Patriots that put them to 3-3 on the season.

Led by four-goal performances from Evan Williams and Shane Lawson, the Patriots jumped out to a 8-6 lead at halftime and responded to a scoreless third quarter to run o five in the fourth quarter to hold o the Mustangs. Lawson was the face leading the charge in the fourth, scoring three goals in the final 8:30 to keep his team ahead.

Senior Cameron Dabney started o hot in the first half, scoring the opening two goals to put the Patriots ahead 2-0 in the first 90 seconds. The Mustangs responded with two of their own from junior James Doss and senior Joe Foley to tie the game up, though the Patriots led 4-3 entering the second quarter.

The second quarter went similarly, with Williams scoring three of his four goals in the 12-minute frame while Lawson added the fourth goal to help the Patriots take a 8-6 lead into halftime. The Mustangs continued responding to keep things close in that second quarter, with Doss, Foley and junior Jonah Volles scoring three goals in 90 seconds to tie the game 6-6 before Williams added two response goals just before halftime.

Foley’s goal drew a big response from the crowd, with the senior attacker intercepting a bad pass and driving home a goal that leveled the score at 6-all.

The Mustangs took control of the third quarter with lockdown defense that shut down the few opportunities the Patriots created while controlling possession on the other side of the field for much of the 12 minutes. The Mustangs tied the game for the third time o goals from Volles and senior Ryan Magill, with Volles scoring in the first minute right after the team received an advantage from a Patriots penalty. Magill tied the game with 1:17 o a nice find from junior Aiden Fitzpatrick.

In the fourth quarter, the Patriots once again took control with two quick goals from Greg Foster in the first three minutes. His second was an impressive finish where he recovered quickly after losing his balance from a check and delivering a low blast into the back of the net.

A goal a minute later from Lawson forced a Mustangs timeout, but the momentum was fully in Patrick Henry’s favor. The lead grew to 12-8 after Lawson fired one from long range, and though a goal from Doss and Chase Hudes gave the Mustangs some temporary life, Lawson added one more late to lock up the road victory for the Patriots.

The Mustangs can get back on track when they take on Hanover on the road on Friday, April 21 at 7:30 p.m. The Patriots will take on Monticello at home on Wednesday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m.