Lionsbridge FC 1, Villages SC 1 (Lionsbridge wins 4-3 on penalty kicks)
NEWPORT NEWS – On the biggest day of his team’s history, the newest member of the Lionsbridge FC delivered the most important kick in its five-year history.
Coleman Jennings nailed the fifth of five penalty kicks for Lionsbridge, breaking a 3-3 draw in the final round and sending the hosts to the USL League 2 national championship against Ballard FC, which will be held on Saturday in Seattle, Washington.
Jennings, who just joined the club last week, was even keeled about his new place in the team’s five-year history.
“I just wanted to deliver for the boys,” said Jennings, who hit a perfect line drive into the right side of the net sending the home crowd, which filled the TowneBank Stadium bleachers, into a frenzy.
Davide Materazzi, Sam Hall, and Andrew Bennett also scored on penalty kicks for Lionsbridge.
Jennings’s game-winner was preceded by a crucial save from goalie Tyler Hogan who stopped a grounder by Pedro Santos to keep the bonus round tied.
Asked if Santos tipped him off about which direction he might send the ball, Hogan said, “I know where I’m going before they (kick) it.”
For Lionsbridge (14-2-3), the win extended its streak to eight, as well as its home unbeaten run, which now stands at 32 games.
The win ends a rugged nine-day stretch for the Eastern Conference champions, who played four games, including two overtime matches this weekend, the first of which lasted until 1:30 am.
The first half was scoreless and highlighted by some rough-and-tumble play and few scoring opportunities. Villages’ Nicolai Muench had the first open shot at goal at the ten-minute mark, receiving a pass within ten yards of the Lionsbridge goal, with only keeper Hogan to beat. But his attempt from the near right side, hit the outside of the goal, getting caught in the netting.
Five minutes later, Lionsbridge midfielder Bennett hooked a 30-yard attempt over the Villages defense and directly toward the top of the Villages goal. But Mathias Tieppo leaped to bat the ball over the crossbar.
Play got chippy in the second half. At the 50-minute mark, a shoving match among several members of both teams broke out near midfield, and two minutes later, Lionsbridge’s Harri Rowe drew a yellow card for upending Muench.
“They’re a physical team,” said coach Chris Whalley. “I think we handled it well.”
Ironically, it was the hosts who eventually benefitted. Lionsbridge earned a free kick from 35 yards out after Sam Hall was pushed to the turf while dribbling. Bennett’s kick was recovered by Adam Kirkwood, who turned to deliver a line drive toward the goal. The ball hit the crossbar, but an alert Josh Baker dove to head in the rebound for a game tying score.
The good news was almost short lived. Villages dribbled into the Lionsbridge zone and sent a kick toward goal where the ball started bouncing toward the net, with Hogan caught five yards outside of the goal. Instinctively, he turned to chase the ball, which he managed to bat out of the crease with his right hand, saving what would have been the game-winning goal as the two clubs played to a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation.
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