OLD TOWN – Even when the ball didn’t go exactly where Andrew Casey planned Monday, it still ended up in the net.

The senior forward had his fourth three-goal match of the season, leading John Bapst of Bangor to a 5-0 Class B schoolboy soccer victory over Old Town.

Casey capped off his afternoon by taking a perfect lead pass from beyond midfield by Jordan Meyers for a breakaway against Old Town goalie Lee Larry. As he approached Larry, Casey briefly lost control of the ball, but both he and the ball got past Larry, enabling Casey to kick the ball into the open net for the game’s final goal late in the second half.

“That was a terrific pass from Jordy right on my foot,” said Casey. “When I went to kick it I misplayed it a bit, but it happened go in front of me and I was able to finish it.”

The victory avenged an overtime loss to the Coyotes earlier this season and put coach Andy Frace’s Crusaders in position to earn home field advantage for the opening round of the playoffs with just one regular-season match remaining.

“Everyone knows the potential’s here with us, and today it finally came out,” said Meyers, a senior midfielder. “Without a doubt this is one of the best games we’ve played.”

Meyers had a goal and two assists for 6-5-2 John Bapst, while Jason McBurnie added a goal and Miles Gagnon and Max Cutri each had an assist.

Old Town, also 6-5-2, had its best scoring chances early in each half, with Janis Schaefer, Dam Zmistowski and Luke Bartlett among those applying offensive pressure. But the Coyotes weren’t as successful putting shots on goal against John Bapst’s Casey Hull, who saved all 10 shots he faced.

Larry, who combined with Alex Caballero to make 10 saves on 15 shots for Old Town, used aggressive play in goal to keep John Bapst off the scoreboard until Casey scored after some strong set-up work by Meyers with 19:47 left in the first half.

Meyers maintained possession against defensive pressure in the right corner, then dribbled along the end line before centering the ball to the middle of the crease, where Casey one-timed a shot inside the left post.

Meyers made it 2-0 with 5:10 left in the half on a give-and-go of sorts with Cutri. Meyers passed the ball to Cutri in the right corner then headed toward the goal crease. Cutri eluded a defender, then left-footed a crossing pass toward the goal that deflected off an Old Town player and right to Meyers, who blasted a short shot into an open net.

Casey got his second goal 13 minutes into the second half. Alex Gale crossed the ball toward the goal from the left corner to Miles Gagnon, who deflected the ball to Casey for a close-range shot that extended the Crusaders’ lead to 3-0.

John Bapst scored again 10 minutes later when Meyers rifled a shot from the 18-yard line that Larry deflected off the crossbar but right to McBurnie, who redirected the rebound into the net.

“The way we played today we can play with just about anyone,” said Meyers. “We came together as a team, and if we play like this against some of the big dogs we’ll definitely be able to hold our own.”

eclark@bangordailynews.net

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