Cosmos bounce back for 4-1 win over Randolph

For the first time in four years, the Cosmos varsity boys soccer program took three wins in a season after Saturday’s hard fought, come-from-behind victory over Randolph at home.

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2017-09-18 / Sports Print article Print Cosmos bounce back for 4-1 win over Randolph By CAMERON PAQUETTE cameronp@eagletimes.com Springfield freshman Jared Pugh launches a corner kick during Saturday's matchup against Randolph at Gurney Field. — CAMERON PAQUETTE Springfield freshman Jared Pugh launches a corner kick during Saturday's matchup against Randolph at Gurney Field. — CAMERON PAQUETTE SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — For the first time in four years, the Cosmos varsity boys soccer program took three wins in a season after Saturday’s hard fought, come-from-behind victory over Randolph at home. And with that third win coming in only the team’s fourth game of the season, head coach Devan McCarty is hopeful that the team can maintain its momentum in what is still a young season. “We’ve still got a long ways to go,” an elated McCarty said after the 4-1 victory at Gurney field. “Certainly we’d like to make a push.” But Saturday’s victory wasn’t clear cut in what was a game of two halves for the team. Momentum swung back and forth between the two teams at the beginning of the match before the Cosmos offense started to shine, linking up a series of passing plays to keep the battle in Randolph’s end. Tristan St. Cyr, Jared Pugh and Lucas Pugh all got shots off, but weren’t able to find the back of the net. Springfield kept the pressure up and narrowly missed out on a goal with 30 minutes left in the half after Randolph goalkeeper Daniel Rosen fumbled a penalty kick shot from Jared Pugh. There was a mad scramble as the Cosmos tried to take advantage, but the Randolph defense was able to clear the ball from the net. Although the Cosmos outperformed Randolph in possession and shots on net, the Ghosts made better use of their relatively few opportunities. Following a breakaway from Randolph’s Ng’oma Lungu and Zach Whitmore that brought play into Springfield’s end, the Ghosts were able to put their first and only point of the board when Randolph forward Liam Connolly put it in off a corner kick from Hunter Brassard. Springfield’s difficulty finding the back of the net led to some frustration, boiling over when the referees issued yellow cards to McCarty and Matt Veysey for dissent before the end of the half. Down 1-0, McCarty urged the Cosmos to “finish it off” before play resumed, and his players did their best to oblige as they took the fight to the Ghosts, keeping play in Randolph’s end and pressurizing the defense. “We really came together in that second half. The energy was great, right from the start they wanted it,” McCarty said. With just under 33 minutes to go in the half, Randolph’s Brassard went down hard after a collision with another player. After several minutes on the ground with the coach and fellow players around him, the forward was carried off the field. He was later taken to a hospital for a knee injury. It was back to business when play resumed, and Springfield was finally able to score when a high shot from team captain Dakota Bushey went in to tie the game at one goal apiece. Randolph attempted to take the fight to Springfield when play resumed — perhaps a bit too hard, as Ghost midfielder Logan Wright was given a yellow card after a trip left Springfield captain Eli Ladleur on his back. Springfield was able to maneuver play back into Randolph’s end of the field, and Bushey was able to score again to give the Cosmos a 2-1 lead. McCarty said Bushey was his man of the match. “Great game for him. He really stepped up and took on his captaincy,” he said. Although the offense was getting the job done, the Springfield defense had plenty to do, and were it not for a save from Cosmos goalkeeper Chris Gurney, stopping a rocket from Connolly after a breakaway, the game would have been tied once more. The Cosmos spent the rest of the game cementing their advantage. Jared Pugh made it a 3-1 game when a hard shot from roughly 35 yards out found its way into the net to the disbelief of his teammates on the bench. Veysey concluded scoring for Springfield with a shot at seven minutes to go after tangling with two defenders. With three defenders on him, Colin Bishop did his best to make it 5-1 Springfield, but a defender was able to deflect the ball before it could crawl past the goal line. After the team’s first loss of the season to Twin Valley on Tuesday, McCarty said Saturday’s win was a statement as the team looks to bounce back and build momentum. “It’s all about how you bounce back and you want it, and it showed in that second half,” he said. “Randolph’s a good team, and we answered right back.” Springfield hosts Long Trail on Wednesday in a bid to improve its 3-1 record.