Lakeview, Hubbard tie for TAC soccer title — they think

Since their records aren’t the same, the title is still up in the air.

By DOUG CHAPIN

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

HUBBARD — Lakeview High and Hubbard High played to a 1-1 tie Tuesday night and finished the final Trumbull Athletic Conference boys soccer season as co-champions — maybe.

Hubbard finished 7-0-3 in league play (10-3-3 overall), including a 3-1 victory over Lakeview earlier in the season. The Bulldogs were 8-1-1, 12-2-2 overall.

“Our perception has always been that ties are half a win and half a loss, we’ve always gone by that,” Hubbard coach Rodney Lehman said. “I saw this coming and made some calls to try to get a ruling. They [the TAC] never addressed ties, they neglected to address it. But they have an opportunity to make it right, the principals and athletic directors have a meeting Oct. 18. We look at it that we are co-champs.”

Lakeview coach Joe Megyesi also said he thinks the teams are tied for first place.

“I really don’t know. They have three ties, we have one loss and a tie,” he said. “I think we are sharing the TAC but I’m going to have to find out for sure.”

On the field, the goal keepers were the stars of Tuesday’s game. Hubbard’s Galen Hayek and Lakeview’s Greg Pecorelli, both senior three-year starters, were outstanding. Hayek was credited with 12 saves while Pecorelli had seven.

“Both are three-year keepers and both are seniors,” Megyesi said. “This is a game that they both wanted. They both made a big difference in the game.”

“They are the best goaltenders in the league, probably the area too,” Lehman said.

Hayek’s most impressive save came with about 11 minutes left in the first half. Lakeview’s Ryan Zeck fed a cross to Nick Massacci in front, about 15 yards from goal, and Hayek slid in just in time to smother Massacci’s shot.

About eight minutes later, Pecorelli came off his line to stone Alex Chick of the Eagles on a clean breakaway.

The two goals both came off of scrambles in front of the net following unsuccessful shots.

Gabe Hitchcock of Hubbard got off a shot from about 15 yards out following a corner kick, but the shot was blocked before it reached Pecorelli. The ball fell at the feet of Greg Orr and he put it in the back of the net from right in front. The score came with 12:23 remaining in the game.

Lakeview wasted no time, tallying at the 10:43 mark. Hayek stretched to deflect a long, high shot from the left side, but was unable to tip the ball high enough and it hit the crossbar and stayed in play. Lakeview’s Joel Davis was waiting for the deflection and put it in the net.

Davis missed just wide with about 20 minutes to play after receiving a pass at the top of the penalty area, turning and whistling a low shot just to the right of the net.

About four minutes before that, Hubbard failed to connect on a good opportunity. Chick’s free kick from about 40 yards out found Phillip Pesch in front of the net but his header was just wide.

“We played pretty much just how we wanted to play,” Lehman said. “They wanted to push us high and we didn’t get too aggressive with traps. Our game plan was let them get a little possession in the midfield, stop them on the 18 and get some counterattacks. That’s kind of exactly how the game went for us.

“We had some very good shots, we had some point-blank shots in the first half. The goalie came out with perfect timing and closed down the angles. But the kids executed the game plan exactly how we wanted.”

Megyesi also was pleased with the way his team performed.

“When we played West Branch it was great, but this was about the best game we’ve had all year. It was good on both sides.

“We’ve been having our way in the TAC now for four years, so we wanted to go out winning it again this year because this is the last year for the TAC.”

The only question now is whether or not the final TAC title is split.