Michael Letendre
BRISTOL – The Bristol Eastern boys soccer team opened the season with a 2-1 win over Maloney on Tuesday evening from Alumni Field from the campus of BEHS.
It was the opening match for both programs and the Spartans went to work offensively right from the start.
The visitors scored first as a Lancers’ mix-up allowed Cristiano Cardentey to collect a loose ball in front of the Eastern net and jam it home – via a 10-yard shot just two minutes into the contest.
However, that slim 1-0 edge did not last.
The Lancers and Spartans traded midfield possessions for the next twenty minutes but Eastern began to tally more of the play.
With 6:18 remaining in the first frame, Maloney failed to clear a ball solidly in their goal area.
Eastern’s Liam Sanchez-Barreto took the ball and drilled in a 12-foot shot to knot the contest up at 1-1.
“We were tentative early, and Maloney brought a physical game,” said Eastern coach Bill Sweet. “As the game went on, we rose to the challenge and battled for every ball.”
The second half was even for the first ten minutes but soon after, Eastern began to dominate play.
The Lancers’ back line of Landon Gawel, Sam LaMar, Rio Fernandez and Jesh Portillo thwarted Maloney’s attack in and around midfield with Eastern moving the ball quickly on the wings.
And at 21:57 of the second stanza, Rocco Barbino took a Sanchez-Barreto through ball, beat his man and the goalie – scoring the game winner, making it 2-1.
Eastern had a few close calls offensively over the next ten minutes and then Maloney began to throw everyone forward on attack in an attempt to tie things up.
“In the last six minutes, Maloney had a few corners and bursts down our flanks, but goalie Peyton Cummings came up with one outstanding save on laser shot by Cardentey and Aiden Collins shut down a threatening breakaway with a smooth tackle,” said Sweet.
And in the end, Eastern went to the pay window with its 2-1 triumph over Maloney.
Cummings scooped in five saves as did Logan Brazel in the Spartans’ net.
Eastern travels to Lewis Mills on Friday for a 3:45 p.m. game in a CCC South tilt.
Bristol Eastern Boys Soccer – CCC South confrontation
BRISTOL EASTERN 2, MALONEY 1
from Alumni Field, Bristol
Scoring 1 2 – F
Maloney 1 0 – 1
Bristol Eastern 1 1 – 2
Individual Scoring – First Half
– Cristiano Cardentey (Maloney)
– Liam Sanchez-Barreto (Bristol Eastern)
Individual Scoring – Second Half
– Rocco Barbino (Bristol Eastern)
Saves: Logan Brazel (Maloney) 5; Peyton Cummings (Bristol Eastern), 5.
Records: Bristol Eastern 1-0 overall; Maloney 0-1.
