Edward P. Dittmer (Hershey, PA)
Late in the season, the line between a cream puff and a spoiler become far too blurry to take chances. Playoff contenders still have to put their best foot forward in order to secure the coveted spots in post-season play.
Last week, Hershey picked apart the Indiana defense and put up four goals to give them a five-point victory. On Saturday, however, the Wildcats allowed the Wolves, who have not won on the road this season, to equalize off an Arnaldo Macedo free kick and share in the points with a 1-1 draw.
The Wildcats could blame two shots that hit the woodwork. They could blame Pedro Olivera from clearing a shot off the line. They could try to blame the referee for two offside calls against Greg Simmonds within two minutes, that would have resulted in goals. But the bottom line is that against one of the weakest teams in the league, Hershey could not find a way to put the game away.
Connecticut lined up against the Wildcats with some familiar faces for the home fans. Former Hershey keeper Jason Petronis and Gino DeFlorio came into town for a return engagement. From the start, the Wolves showed they came to play by tenaciously challenging for balls and closing down the Hershey offense. Hershey tried to attack but found patience and concentration lacking. There passing was less than sharp and forward runs were badly mistimed.
In spite of themselves, Hershey managed to open the scoring in the 17th minute. Defender Kyle Swords crossed into the box where Mike Henning dove onto the ball and headed past Petronis for the goal.
Hershey thought they would go into the locker room with a lead, but a foul just outside the area in stoppage time gave the Wolves the opening they needed. Mecedo curled the ball over the wall and just out of the reach of the diving Hershey keeper.
Coming out for the second, Hershey wanted to make a quick statement and a shot from Leonard hammered off the near post. But it was not until the 78th minute that Hershey would get a solid opportunity. Of a corner kick from C.C. Colasante, Ze Roberto would head off the crossbar and the follow up was cleared off the line.
Coming towards the end of regulation, Greg Simmonds showed why concentration and presence of mind can mean as much in this game as physical ability. The Hershey striker took a pass inside and slotted it past Petronis only to have the play called offside. As the crowd went wild for the last minute winner, Simmonds saw the error of his ways. He was clearly a step past the defenders when the pass was made and his game-winner was called back. Not two minutes later Simmonds again put a goal past the Wolves keeper. But a second time, he would be called offside. Those on the south side of the stadium saw Simmonds a full stride beyond the defense and could only despair while those with poorer sight lines screamed at the referee in anger.
In extra time, Hershey would manage very little in the way of opportunity. As the home side can dress 7 reserves, Hershey could have used this to their advantage with the depleted Wolves having inserted their backup keeper into the lineup for the remainder. However, Lilley curiously chose to leave the fresh legs on the bench and take a chance with his current crew.
Despite the sloppy offensive work by Hershey, Connecticut can feel very good about having shut down two of the league's leading scorers. They played tough and deserved the draw. Hershey, meanwhile, must look back at this game and remind themselves that teams don't become champions by mailing it in. They will now head off on a three-week read trip, which will take them back to Connecticut as well as to Pittsburgh and Richmond. These three weeks will surely test the mettle of the Wildcats and decide whether or not they have what it takes to be the champions.
Hershey was able to brag about one of its better crowds on the season as 2,694 came out Saturday night.
