Martin powers Van Buren boys to state crown

HAMPDEN – Sometimes the team with the most opportunities doesn’t win, but the one who does the most with the fewest does.

Richmond outshot Van Buren 21-17 and controlled most of the game until Van Buren’s Alex Martin scored off a Riley Lizotte assist 1 minute, 41 seconds into overtime to lead the Crusaders to a 2-1 boys soccer victory in the Class D state final Saturday.

“There was a pass to the middle and I got past my man and shot it toward the corner,” said Martin, who scored both of the Crusaders’ goals.

“He got through a couple people and drilled it into the corner. It may have gone through a defender’s legs,” Van Buren coach Steve LaPierre said.

The championship was Van Buren’s fourth. The Crusaders, who finished with a 16-0-2 record, last won in 2004. Richmond wound up 15-2.

“It’s a little disappointing,” said first year Bobcats coach Joe Scribellito. “I’m proud of the way the kids responded today. They fought hard.

“Soccer’s a game of bounces and all it takes is for one to go the other way and the result goes against our team.”

For the second year in a row, Richmond made it to the state final and lost to an Eastern Maine opponent. Bangor Christian bested the Bobcats last year 5-0.

Van Buren dominated early in the first half, but Richmond got through the defense and scored first with 27:27 left when senior Eric Nash put in a Brandon Lancaster assist.

“I was running down the middle and I was calling for it,” said Nash. “[Lancaster] ended up trying to shoot it, and it deflected off the [Van Buren player] defending it. I kicked at the same time as another kid and we came together. We both kind of kicked it and it deflected off his leg into the lower corner.”

It was all Richmond after that until Martin tied it on a Ben Doucette assist with 5:31 left in the first half.

“We called a play to our left wing,” said Martin, a junior forward. “He bounced it up the middle and I headed it towards the goalie and it went into the goal.”

After halftime, Richmond came out firing but couldn’t put one past senior goalie Andrew Taylor.

“They were ripping and firing like crazy,” said Taylor, who recorded 13 saves. “It was an aggressive game. A lot of hits both ways.”

Van Buren picked up the pace in the last half of regulation.

“The last 20 minutes, I think that the kids really stepped up,” LaPierre said. “I think that we were able to generate opportunities and put them on their heels.”

The aggressiveness paid off in overtime as Martin put it past goalie Kyle Lancaster, who had nine saves.

“It was a fun game,” LaPierre said. “It’s always more fun when you’re on the winning end.”

Both teams were optimistic about facing each other again in next year’s state championship.

Richmond will have six returning starters, including two of its top scorers in Jason Brown and Andy Harrington.

“I’m looking forward to next season,” Scribellito said.

“I have my whole front line back next year,” said LaPierre. “We’re always looking forward to [next season], but we got to enjoy this one first.”