Boys soccer: Greely pulls away from Gray-New Gloucester in second half

GRAY — Samuel Dudek put the game away for Greely, scoring two of the Rangers’ three second-half goals in a 5-0 victory over Gray-New Gloucester on Tuesday.

Those goals were the first two of the season for Dudek.

“It all started with my team, down the right flank, they served great balls,” Dudek, a senior midfielder, said. “I was in the right position at the right time. I just tapped it in.”

Greely coach Mike Andreasen said the Rangers took advantage of their chances Tuesday.

“We were opportunistic tonight,” Andreasen said. “We had a goal at the end of the half; it was a 1-0 game, it was a good game, and then we scored with four minutes to go.”

Gray-New Gloucester couldn’t sustain any momentum from the first half into the second half.

“Our defensive backs played well and kept us organized,” Patriots coach Neil Carroll said. “We were able to stay in it — the few mistakes, not following runners gave them two goals. … We didn’t follow the central midfielders (Owen Piesik) and (Aaron Park), (who) did a really good job checking out of the midfield and getting in (the box).”

Carroll said the Patriots also didn’t keep their shape in the second half.

The Rangers (8-3-1) took a 1-0 lead when a Owen Piesik corner kick went to Owen Partridge in the 18-yard box, where he directed the ball into the net four minutes into the first half.

Aaron Park had put a handful of shots on goal throughout the first half. He finally converted in the 35th minute when Piesik made a low pass to him in the box and Park put home the ball.

Gray-New Gloucester (5-6-2) had a few chances in the opening half — their best coming off long-distance shots, one at the beginning of the first half and one at the end.

Greely scored quickly in the second half — 19 seconds to be exact — when midfielder Samuel Dudek finished off a cross inside the box for a 3-0 advantage.

“Our wings did a nice job, actually,” Andreasen said. “I got on them at halftime because I didn’t think they played a very good first half, but in the second half, they got deeper and then played the ball across into the middle. We just had guys running onto it. It was pretty textbook stuff.”

Luka Rosolino had a 30-yard free kick shortly after for the Patriots, but it sailed over the crossbar.

Gray-New Gloucester goalie Tristan Cuttler made a point-blank save on Bezabeh Mendelsohn in the seventh minute. A few minutes later, Cuttler made stopped another Mendelsohn shot.

The Rangers continued to make crosses deep in the box. After Park couldn’t put home the pass, Dudek tapped the ball over the goal line for a 4-0 lead in the 12th minute.

Dudek (one save) played the final 10 minutes in goal for the Rangers.

“I only go in when we are up big, but it’s cool to get some goals and get a save,” Dudek said.

Greely starter Landon Dominski only needed to make three saves in the win.

One minute later, Piesik chipped a shot over Cuttler on a partial breakaway for a 5-0 lead.

The Patriots had a difficult time generating offense in the second half, only recording one shot on goal. Greely stopped a potential breakaway in the final minute of the game.

“We weren’t able to build out from the back and get balls to feet like we did in the first half,” Carroll said. “When we gave up that first goal (in the first half), we were able to play to feet and got forward and got two or three opportunities. The second half we couldn’t produce the same thing.”