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Crusaders Outduel Panthers, Remain Undefeated

The Groton-Dunstable Crusaders marched into Marlborough and defeated the Panthers 3-1, remaining undefeated on the season.

In a Mid-Wach B battle at Kelleher Field, the Groton-Dunstable Crusaders marched into and defeated the Panthers 3-1, remaining undefeated on the season. Strikers Kyle Romich (two goals) and Nate Pomercy provided all of the offense for the Crusaders, while Paco Ceja chipped in the lone goal for the Panthers.

The first half began with the teams trading possession and chances. Over time the Crusaders began to carry play, linking passes together in the attacking third and pressuring the Marlborough keeper. Fourteen minutes into the game Groton-Dunstable capitalized on their sustained pressure when, off a throw-in, Romich flicked a header over the outstretched arms of Panthers keeper Kevin Martins. “We wanted to come out hard and strong, play together,” said Romich. “We ended up getting a couple goals on key throw-ins, something we worked on in practice.” This gave the Crusaders a 1-0 lead and the all-important first goal when playing on the road.

The Crusaders added to their lead just five minutes into the second half. Pomercy used his speed to beat the defenders off of a through-ball from a teammate and fired a shot past the Panthers keeper. Romich added his second of the game with just over twenty minutes to play. In a carbon copy of his first goal, Romich finished another long throw-in with a header into the back of the net.

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“Marlborough won the division last year, and we knew that as well as we’ve been playing lately, that this would be real a test for us,” said Crusaders Head Coach Sean Wisbey. “We have a very mature team and we were able to find the back of the net.”

With just over eight minutes left Marlborough finally finished a chance when Ceja received the ball off of a throw-in and fired a right-footed strike past the keeper, narrowing the Crusaders lead. The Panthers pushed forward and created many more quality chances, but were unable to beat the keeper again.

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“It was a big game for us, I knew it would be a tough game. Those two throw-ins cost us. We need to learn from what happened today, and get better tomorrow,” said Panthers Head Coach Steve Bishop.

Coach Bishop and the Panthers will look to bounce back from this loss when they travel to Worcester North High School on Thursday, Sept. 29 to take on the Polar Bears. 

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