Kongsuriya powers HA upset win Broncos top Bangor

HAMPDEN – At one point during its game with Bangor Monday night the Hampden Academy Broncos boys soccer team had six sophomores on the field.

Youth was well served as sophomore Nattapong Kongsuriya scored two goals and was involved in the third in Hampden’s 3-0 win.

Hampden improved to 2-3 while Bangor suffered its first loss in four games.

“Basically we’re sophomore laden,” Hampden coach Andy Frace said. “But I really don’t look at them that way. I just play them where I think they’re going to do the best job.”

Kongsuriya started the scoring 12 minutes into the match on a penalty kick after being tripped up from behind as he went in on goal from the right side.

Kongsuriya calmly struck the ball low inside the left post after a long delay while the referees set things up for the kick.

“He told me to wait for the whistle. I was just thinking what corner I was going to kick it into,” Kongsuriya said.

Hampden spent much of the first half in control of the ball. And they made good use of the it, making thoughtful passes into space where front runners Jake Reynolds and Adam Standley repeatedly forced Bangor goalie Payson Nichols off his line to make stops.

Nichols was at his best with 18:30 left in the half when Reynolds and Standley beat Bangor’s defense and broke in together on goal.

Nichols ran at Reynolds and dove, blocking a shot off his chest and then rolled and took the ball off Standley’s right foot before the senior could get a shot off.

But Hampden kept the pressure on and it paid off in a second goal with just over seven minutes remaining in the half.

The goal came off a restart after the Rams had been whistled for a foul. Junior Bud Bridges sent a long crossing pass from the left side of the field into the penalty area that Reynolds headed to the left post. Kongsuriya ran onto the ball and slammed it into the back of the net.

Hampden’s scored its third goal with 5:24 left in the game. Kongsuriya started the play with a corner kick, sending the ball into the goalmouth that Peter Alexander buried after a scramble for the ball.

Bangor had few quality chances, their best coming off the right foot of junior Tim Woodcock from approximately 25 yards that froze Hampden goalie Ken Mayo and went off the crossbar and over the goal.

Bangor looked to get the ball to Ryan Jeffrey, who was in the center forward position, but had little success thanks in large part to a blanketing defensive effort by sophomore Alex Reynolds.

“They outplayed us to every loose ball,” Bangor coach Adam Leach said. “They outworked us. Their hustle and heart won the game for them.”

Nichols and Josh Heath combined to make four saves on 10 shots, while Hampden’s Mayo turned away four of 10 shots.