Bristol Eastern (4-1-2) scored the winning goal with 34 seconds left on the clock to defeat Plainville (5-2) by a 2-1 score Friday afternoon at Bristol Eastern. The Lancers responded to Plainville’s challenges with solid defense throughout the game.   

The Lancers struck first, 28:35 into the initial half, as Joe Verardi slipped a pass to a cutting Dom Femiak who scored into the near side of the goal. 

Plainville’s ball control gave them more time of possession in the first half, but the Lancer back line, especially Brandon Greger and Andrew Lozier, frustrated them in the final defensive third.   

The second half was much of the same until the Blue Devil’s Patrick Gryszewski broke free on the left side and sent a cross that Avery Palma knocked home  with 6:30 left in the game.   

Then with 1:05 to play, Tyler Borry had a pass deflected out of bounds and Joe Verardi took the resulting corner kick.  Verardi’s kick was perfectly placed, and Luke Hammer arrived at the edge of the area and headed a hard shot past Plainville goalie Nathan Masco at :34.   
   

“We really earned this win across the board,” said Lancer coach Bill Sweet. From the backs to the forwards, we dug down and beat a well-coached team.   Standing out by their tireless work rate in the middle of the field were Elijah Parent and Adam Borry.”

Masco had 7 saves while Eastern’s Nate Diloreto made 5.     

Eastern travels to Southington on Tuesday.