HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER Poland rallies to top Red Dragons

P.J. Booth scored two goals, including the game-winner, for the Bulldogs.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- A penalty kick about midway through the second half spelled the beginning of the end for Niles, and the end of the beginning for Poland, in a boys soccer game Thursday night at Bo Rein Stadium.
With Niles leading, 2-0, on goals by Andrew Nagy and Tommy Clay, a Red Dragon player touched the ball with his hands near the Poland goal for a penalty that set the stage for the Bulldogs' comeback.
Junior P.J. Booth converted on the ensuing penalty kick, and after sophomore Chris Juchno tied it at 2, Booth connected again with about 10 minutes remaining to give Poland a 3-2 win.
Close, hard-hit shot
Booth, who also helped to cause the penalty, kicked the ball hard to his left on the penalty shot from about 10 feet out, away from the goalie's grasp, with about 20:50 to go.
Then Juchno, standing in front of the net, took a long, side pass from Tom Rudnicki, and pumped the ball into the left side of the net away from goalie Joe Harvey with about 18 minutes remaining to tie the score. Rudnicki got an assist.
Booth got the game-winner in nearly the same manner. While positioned close to the net but just to its left, he diverted a long, side pass from Ken Toth, and angled the ball to his right into the net for the clincher. Toth got an assist.
Coach Chris Labatte credited Booth for starting the comeback.
The penalty
"P.J. made a nifty move" that helped to cause the penalty against Niles, said Labatte, explaining that the ball bounced up and hit an opponent's hand for the penalty and ensuing kick.
"Booth is very skillful on the ball. He can do a lot of things others can't."
But Booth said he didn't know what caused the penalty that gave him the kick, although he distinctly remembered his game-winner.
"It was a cross pass from Ken Toth, [and] I saw it coming," said Booth.
Coach Rob Merlo of Niles (2-3-1) said his team lost focus after taking the lead.
Poland pushed ball
"We didn't have as much pressure on the ball in the second half," said Merlo, while emphasizing that Poland (2-1) did.
Nagy gave Niles a 1-0 lead at 7:20 of the first half from about 10 feet out when he scored after the ball bounced off goalie John Aldan.
Clay made it 2-0 with 24:20 remaining in the second half, as his 10-foot shot slipped through Aldan's arms as he dove to his left trying to stop it.
Aldan had four saves. Harvey had seven saves for Niles.
kovach@vindy.com