In a game of chances, those who are unable to convert won’t prevail, and for a time Wednesday night, Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science boys soccer was put on the ropes.
Facing Pisgah in its second-round MHSAA Class I playoff game, the Blue Waves struggled to not only generate chances but to put them away.
Muddy conditions caused by Tuesday night’s storm system that swept through Columbus didn’t make things much easier, but the Dragons had to play through the slop just as much.
As the second half got underway, the only difference in the game was the lone goal scored, a fantastic solo run from Pisgah striker Asa Hurst, but with more chances created from MSMS in the final 40 minutes of play, a few were destined to go in.
“As we continued on, we noticed that we could have some open opportunities on the far side if we were to do that,” MSMS head coach Joseph Barnard said. “That’s kind of what our goal was.”
Opportunities weren’t nearly as plentiful down the middle of the field as the Dragons played a tough back four that stood its ground.
Any real shots that the Waves generated were skied wide of goal or came into the box with little power because players weren’t able to secure footing and, as a result, were off balance to begin with.
“There weren’t really many great options to play unfortunately,” junior Sebastian Harvey said. “I feel like we could have won this game by a lot more, but our plant feet were slipping, and that really hurts your shots. That’s why you saw so many shots go over the bar.
“It really hurts your game, but the other team had the same difficulties, so we can’t use that as an excuse.”
The challenges of the field conditions made things much more interesting on both sides as finesse and quick passes were what was needed to make the ultimate difference late.
On Hurst’s goal, a through ball found him in the midfield, and he controlled the entire way through up until his shot on goal. MSMS just needed to find the same source of success.
That success finally came thanks to the work of players like senior Sawyer Levenson, who tallied two assists in the game.
When forwards and attacking midfielders made runs, Levenson did his best to find them in the box. Sure enough, he found Osmun Caddell to tie the game from a ground cross and Harvey for the game winner around the 70th minute from a floated cross to the back post.
“This whole season I’ve been working my back post runs,” Harvey said. “That’s often where you get the best chances and open goals. Me and Sawyer, we have an understanding that when he puts in a cross, I’m always at the back post. It was a wonderful floated cross. The keeper didn’t judge it right, so I snuck around him and headed it home.”
Some stellar defending in the final minutes of play secured the biggest win in program history, a 2-1 comeback victory that sent the Blue Waves to the quarterfinals of the MHSAA Class I playoffs for the first time.
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