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Lakeview led 2-0 against Spartans before storm idles clash
Lakeview led 2-0 when Mother Nature pounced
By RYAN W. BUCK
BOARDMAN
Few sequences are worse for a soccer player than hearing the rumbling of thunder in the distance and the subsequent whistle of the referee urging players off the field.
The Lakeview and Boardman high school soccer teams fell victim to Mother Nature’s wrath Thursday night at the Boardman High School Athletic Complex.
With 19 seconds remaining in the first half, a thunderstorm forced the postponement of the inter-conference clash with the Bulldogs leading the Spartans, 2-0.
The Bulldogs (4-0) were prepared for inclement conditions.
“We didn’t know if it would be a storm so we wanted to strike early, just in case,” fourth-year Lakeview coach Nate Mailach said. “This [weather delays] happens to us every year, it seems like.”
Mailach, who starred for Champion High’s soccer teams in the mid-90s, saw his squad dominate the early minutes of the contest. They took eight shots on goal and earned six corner kicks.
After an opening minute goal was reversed for running into Boardman’s goalkeeper, Lakeview’s leading scorer, Colton Ainsley, went to work.
Ainsley, a junior forward, beat his man on a long throw-in inside the Boardman penalty area and snuck a header past Boardman backup goalkeeper Brian Fryda for a 1-0 lead.
“We have some guys up top that can attack,” Mailach said. “Colton Ainsley’s got 14 goals already through four-and-a-half games so he’s on fire.”
With about seven minutes remaining in the half, Lakeview received a free kick 40 yards from the Boardman goal. Sophomore Matt Pasternak slid through the Boardman offside trap and headed the bouncing pass into the back of the net to put the Bulldogs up 2-0.
The Spartans showed signs of life late in the half, mounting several runs at Lakeview’s goal. But senior captain and defensive stalwart Jake Colbrunn and the defense were up to the task. The Bulldogs blocked all three of Boardman’s first-half shots before they reached goalkeeper Clay Becker.
Lakeview’s perfect start comes after a 2011 season where they dominated the Youngstown Division II district tournament, outscoring their three opponents a combined 13-1. They fell to eventual state runner-up Richfield Revere in the regional semifinal.
As the rain drops began to fall, Mailach took a moment to reflect on the transition to this season.
“We were a very deep team last year. We could have played 20 guys and my younger guys were just itching to get on the field. Now they’re getting that opportunity to make a name for themselves,” he said.
Despite losing considerable experience and leadership, Mailach’s squad has embraced some new faces.
The continuation of Thursday’s match will be announced by both athletic departments in the next few days.