LISBON FALLS — Most soccer coaches will preach long and hard about the five minutes.

There’s the first five of any half and the five minutes after a goal is scored. Those are significant moments in any soccer game and how a team responds very well might make the difference.

“We have a five-minute rule,” said Lisbon coach Jake Gentle. “The first five minutes of a half and the first five minutes after a goal is scored are very important. If we can respond after we score a goal or after they score a goal, that’s going to help us out.”

The Greyhounds proved that true Wednesday. After Mt. Abram netted the equalizer to tie the game in the opening half, Lisbon answered with another tally just minutes later. The Greyhounds seized back what momentum the Roadrunners had and finished off a 3-1 win.

“That quick let down hurt,” Mt. Abram coach Marc Keller said. “I think all coaches talk about that next five minutes right after a goal. Either getting the next one or not giving up the next one can really swing the game. It was a miscommunication that caused the problem.”

What made it worse for the Roadrunners (4-3) was a corner kick that deflected in off a Mt. Abram defender.

“It definitely got the intensity up,” said Lisbon senior midfielder Paige Galligan, who scored the goal.

Kailyn Hill, Galligan and Jenna Clifford had the goals for the Greyhounds (4-2). Lisbon generated eight corner kicks and kept pressure on the young Mt. Abram defense as a result.

“Traditionally, we never score a lot of goals on restart plays,” said Gentle. “I think we were just fortunate. They had trouble clearing it here or there and we were able to put it in. Sometimes, if you put it in the box good things happen.”

It was the fourth straight win for Lisbon after starting the year 0-2.

“We’re definitely coming together more as a team,” Galligan said. “We’re working with the passing and talking and working together.”

Mt. Abram received a fine performance from senior keeper Allie Lopez. She finished with 12 saves. Lisbon outshot the Roadrunners, 20-4.

“We didn’t have our best game,” Keller said. “They won a lot of balls in the midfield. We just didn’t get to a lot of them.”

The first goal came at 8:05 when Hill was able to put in a rebound from in front.

Mt. Abram was able to get that back when Elise Luce scored from 25 yards out on a high shot with 25:37 left in the first half.

Then just 2:21 later, Galligan’s corner from the left side hit a Roadrunner in front and deflected in.

“We try to isolate some people coming in,” said Galligan. “It just happened to be in the right spot.”

Lisbon had a shot from Shantal MacWhinnie hit the crossbar and had a nice bid by Deliah Schrieber stopped by a sprawling Lopez. Mt. Abram had a try late in the half when Hattie Rosenberg got behind the defense but shot wide.

Lisbon’s Olivia Bulgin had a chance early in the second half,  but her shot was cleared out by defender Ivy Mitman.

With 27:17 left in regulation, Renea Samay-Houle crossed the ball from the left side. Clifford was in front for the redirection and 3-1 lead.

“It’s extremely important to get a two-goal lead,” said Gentle. “When you’re in the last 20-minutes of the game and you have a two-goal lead, you can switch up what you’re trying to do offensively and defensively. You can try to hit the ball out a little wider. You can use a little time here and there to play a little more defensive soccer.”

kmills@sunjournal.com

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