PHOTOS: Late Mainland goal hands unfortunate Middle tough conference defeat

Posted: September 17th 2024

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – The fine play might be there, but the results currently are not for the  Middle Township High School boys soccer team.

The Panthers had their winless streak stretched to three matches after falling 1-0 in a key Cape-Atlantic National Conference game to Mainland Monday evening at the Boyd Street Field. The Mustangs netted the winner six minutes from full time on one of their few advances into the final third of the field of the second half.

It was another frustrating result for Middle (2-2-1), which recently lost a game in extra time at Ocean City and drew 1-1 with Bridgeton prior to facing Mainland. Through it all, the Panthers have been playing a nice brand of soccer against quality without reaping the rewards for it.

“The message, and we’ve been talking about it for a while, has been about us being in our own way both mentally and with some of our decision making,” Middle coach Scott Kurkowski said.

Middle enjoyed at least 60 percent of the possession in the second half against Mainland, but did little to create dangerous chances. The Mustangs scored after getting forward following a Middle turnover in the midfield, James Breitinger sliding the ball over the line off a feed from David O’Donnell.

Middle had two chances to equalize late. On the first, Guilherme Candido got past the back line off an excellent through ball from the midfield but a Mainland back recovered in time to block his shot from 10 yards. And on the second, in the game’s final moments, Antonio Panzini’s inviting cross was gathered and secured by Mainland goalkeeper Brandon Dionicio as two Panther players were in position to pounce on any rebound. 

“Creating chances is never easy,” Kurkowski said. “Both teams only had a couple of real chances each but unfortunately for us Mainland scored on one of them and we didn’t.”

Miles Stafford made seven saves in the loss. Two came on shots from distance when the Middle goalkeeper leaped to tip tricky shots over the crossbar.

“He’s a great goalkeeper,” Kurkowski said. “I can’t speak more highly of him. He works hard every day.”

A victory would have placed Middle in first place in the conference. Instead, the results leaves Mainland in first place as the only unblemished team in conference games (4-0-0). The Panthers fell to 2-1-1 in conference games, placing them in a pack with Bridgeton (2-0-2) and Absegami (2-1-0) just below the pace setters.

There’s still a long way to go in the race for the conference title, however.

“Unfortunately, our fate isn’t in our hands anymore,” Kurkowski said, alluding to the fact that Mainland would have to stumble against another conference foe in order to give Middle a chance to win it. “But I do feel we’re still one of the best teams in our division, no doubt about it.

“I think we’re one of the most dangerous teams in our division. Unfortunately, we’re not getting the results we want right now but I know long term this team is going to be very, very good.”