LISBON FALLS — It happened so fast that Ketch Cowan barely remembers what happened.

The Georges Valley forward saw the ball and kicked at it. That’s all he recalls.

“The end of the game was really intense,” said Cowan. “We were still pumped and everyone was going for the ball. It was the whole team that had pressure on the ball. I was just there at the right place at the right time. I just knocked it by him.”

Cowan’s goal with 1:12 left in regulation lifted the Bucs to a 2-1 win over Lisbon. Georges Valley (4-1-1) was ranked fourth in the latest Western C standings while Lisbon (4-3) was ranked seventh in Western B.

“It was a very big win for us,” said Cowan. “We’re very excited. They’re worth a lot of points, and it should definitely bump us up a little bit.” 

Cowan’s game-winner came off a Logan Cross throw from the right sideline. His heave landed in the middle of the goalmouth. Cowan was in position to get a quality shot off but his first attempt was squarely blocked by a Lisbon defender. The ball hit off the Greyhound but stayed right there for Cowan to get another crack at it. His second attempt didn’t miss.

“It was going so fast, I wasn’t even thinking,” said Cowan. “All I was doing was to try to get the ball into the goal. I didn’t even realize it got blocked the first time.”

It was a tough loss for the Greyhounds, which took a 1-0 lead but watched the Bucs rally. Lisbon was playing without forward George Clement, who was out with an injury.

“We sat back on our heels at times,” said Lisbon coach Dan Sylvester. “When you don’t go to the ball, you don’t have possession. That’s something we’ve been struggling with the last few games.”

The Bucs controlled play early on and outshot Lisbon 14-7 in the first half. Georges Valley nearly scored when Cowan had a shot saved by Lisbon keeper Ethan Audie. He made another save when he stuffed a rebound bid at the right post and a wall of Lisbon defenders kept the Bucs at bay on that threat.

Lisbon then took the lead with 16:42 left in the half on its second shot of the game. Marcus Bubar had a free kick that went to the top of the penalty area. Tyler Dupal directed it forward where Steve Obie converted it for a 1-0 lead.

“We do well with that,” said Sylvester. “We had the momentum, but we didn’t carry that momentum throughout the game. That’s what we have to work on — keeping that intensity when those things happen or if someone makes a good play. We have to protect that lead, and we didn’t do that.”

The Bucs tied the game with 4:43 left in the half when it caught the Lisbon defense unaware. Dean Cline had an open shot and fired it inside the left post.

“We weren’t really going to the ball as much as we should have been,” said Cowan. “It doesn’t matter how much you have the ball, if the score is 1-0, you’re still losing. We luckily got a goal. Dean Cline had an amazing shot, and that gave us the momentum to come back. The second half we had a lot of pressure on the ball, and we played a lot better.”

Both teams had cracks at the game-winner in the second half, but it wasn’t until Cowan’s second swing at the loose ball that the stalemate was broken.

“We didn’t have the good opportunities, and we kind of stood around and watched that ball come through the box,” said Sylvester. “Their guy was there to put it in the back of the net. When you don’t go to the ball, those things can happen.”