Raiders avenge overtime loss

By By Tony Krausz/assistant sports editor
January 10, 2004
For the second time in as many games the Lamar School boys' soccer team had to play two overtimes to decide the out come of a match at Grey Cobbs Field.
The Raiders fell in double-overtime to River Oaks Academy last Monday, but Friday night's overtime affair finished in a more favorable fashion for the home team.
Lamar (6-1-1) bounced back from its first loss of the season to take a 2-1 win in two overtimes over previously undefeated Copiah Academy (4-1).
Raiders striker Randy Boyd Thompson sealed the win scoring off a penalty kick with less than two minutes remaining in the second overtime.
Thompson, who also scored Lamar's lone goal in regulation, was taken down inside the Copiah Academy Colonels' goal box by a defender and rewarded the free shot on goal.
The Raiders' striker buried the penalty kick into the lower right corner of the net for the one-goal victory.
Lamar's overtime win was made possible by some big plays from the team's defenders and goalkeeper Scott Owen.
Owen stopped four shots, two from deep inside the box, in the overtime periods, and he saved 15-of-16 shots in regulation.
The Raiders defense also did its part to help limit the Colonels to one goal in the contest.
Lamar sweeper Drew Moffett kept Copiah striker Stephen Assink from having a clear shot at the goal with a minute left in regulation play. Moffett forced Assink to send a shot wide left of the net to preserve the one-goal tie.
After a slow start, the Raiders struck first on the scoreboard with a goal from Thompson in the game's 21st minute.
Lamar's Alex Lisi threaded a pass to Thompson between a pair of Copiah defenders in the midfield.
Thompson dribbled into the Colonels' goal box only to have the goalkeeper slide out to knock the ball off his foot, but the Lamar striker was able to gather the loose ball and score into the open net for a 1-0 lead.
The Raiders' advantage was short lived. Assink scored the Colonels' lone goal three minutes later by gathering a muffed clearing attempt by Lamar's defense and pushing the ball into an open net from about six yards out.
Copiah's goal at the 24-minute mark was the last goal of regulation forcing another overtime game for Lamar.
The Raiders continue their season against University Christian at 6 p.m. Monday at home.