Lawrence splits playoff games

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The Lawrence boys’ soccer team was not satisfied with just making it to a Nassau Class A playoff game against No. 1 seed Garden City. After keeping their season alive with a 2-0 victory against Manhasset on Oct. 21, the No. 17 seeded Golden Tornadoes entered the field last Friday afternoon fully believing they could beat the top-ranked Trojans.

“I don’t look at seeds,” Lawrence coach Patrick Leary said. “We came in here expecting to win.”

The Golden Tornadoes certainly did not look overmatched by Garden City, possessing the ball for much of the contest. But after 55 minutes of scoreless play, Drew Haggerty broke through with a goal for the Trojans, allowing the favorites to escape with a 1-0 victory.

“We’ll look back and realize we put forth a good effort, but right now I feel bad for my guys,” Leary said after the elimination loss. “I’ve got a bunch of seniors who are just great kids, and ultimately there’s disappointment.”

Haggerty scored the game’s lone goal on a shot that went off the crossbar and down into the net.  He received the ball off a header pass from Luke Keating, who was credited with an assist on the play. The goal was Haggerty’s first of the season.

Golden Tornadoes goalkeeper Diego Depaz almost made the save on the play, but could not fully control the ball after it deflected down from the crossbar. The sophomore finished the match with six saves. “In the first half we had the better of the play and didn’t finish,” Leary said. “They found a way to put one in the net. It very easily could have gone the other way, and we could have put one in the net. But, that’s the nature of the game.”

Lawrence’s season came to an end after what was a thrilling week of action.  On Oct. 19, the Golden Tornadoes trailed late in the second half to Bethpage, needing at least a draw to qualify for the playoffs.  With just 3:34 remaining in the game, sophomore Darwin Reyes scored for Lawrence, helping it secure a tie and a postseason berth.

Two days later, the Golden Tornadoes defeated Manhasset in an outbracket playoff game. Seniors Edwin Hernandez and Carlos Martinez each scored for Lawrence in the match, and Depaz delivered a five-save shutout.

“We came out and took it right to Manhasset,” Leary said. “We had a good all-around effort, and managed to find the net. It was a nice momentum building win for us, and I think it gave us the confidence to come in to the Garden City game and perform the way we did.”

While Lawrence’s 2015 campaign ended in heartbreaking fashion, Leary is still pleased with the way his team battled over the final week. “We never quit,” he said. “I’m proud of them and the way they represented themselves. I’m ultimately just disappointed that we didn’t get to go any further.”