Myers leads John Bapst by Ellsworth

BANGOR – In asking Jordan Myers to be more offensive-minded in recent games, John Bapst boys soccer coach Andy Frace set up the sophomore center midfielder for a stellar performance in Thursday’s early season showdown between the Crusaders and powerhouse Ellsworth.

Myers responded with three goals, including the game-winning header with 2 minutes, 14 seconds left in regulation, to lift John Bapst to a 4-3 win at the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center field.

Myers’ winner capped a back-and-forth battle that ended with the Crusaders picking up what may be the program’s first on-field win over an Ellsworth team. Last year the Eagles forfeited a 0-0 tie to Bapst because Ellsworth had two ineligible players.

Both teams entered Thursday’s game with 2-0 records. And both were looking at the matchup as a tough early test.

“They’re a high-quality team,” Bapst senior goalie Chris Smith said. “We needed to beat them, and we showed what we’re made of.”

Myers’ header came off a Jon Gagnon corner kick – the ball soared into a clutch of players in the penalty area for the head shot – about two minutes after Myers drilled home a penalty kick after a tripping call.

He put the ball into the upper right part of the net above Ellsworth goalie Greg Berry.

“Jordan had been kind of defensive-minded in the last couple of games and I told him he had to get involved in the offense,” Frace said. “… I said, to beat Ellsworth we have to have four and five guys there. Jordan took it to heart.”

That he did, especially with so little time left for a game-winner.

“I just got in the back and I knew I had to score,” Myers said. “I just jumped and headed it in.”

That goal represented the third tie of the game and pulled the Crusaders even at 3-3, more than four minutes after Ellsworth’s James Doe nailed a blast from about 30 yards out that tipped off Smith’s hands.

Smith, who finished with seven saves on 15 shots, redeemed himself with about 10 seconds left when he punched out a dangerous corner kick by Ellsworth’s Zac Emeigh.

“It came pretty close,” said Smith. “They had three guys right there.”

Ellsworth coach Brian Higgins said missing out on some early shots hurt the Eagles late.

“We had some good chances in the first three minutes of the game,” said the 33rd-year coach. “We were just a little snake bit today. They made the most of their opportunities and what they did, they did well.”

Wing player Andrew Casey put the Crusaders up seven minutes into the game with a goal, kicking the ball into the left side of an open net after Berry (three saves on 15 shots) went to the right to stop a shot seconds earlier.

Chris Archer tied it up for Ellsworth when he slipped a shot on the ground past Smith. Myers gave Bapst a 2-1 lead when he rocketed in a shot from 35 yards out with 7:31 left in the first half.

The Eagles answered again with a Hans Haugen goal off a crossing pass from Dem Katsiaficas.

“They have some really good players, and we had a hard time getting control of the ball and getting it away,” Bapst senior striker Petter Lundquist said.