After 80 minutes of deliberation between crosstown rivals John Bapst and Bangor, the Crusaders came out on top 2-0 on Wednesday night at Cameron Stadium.
It was a costly loss for Bangor, who now sit at 3-8-1 with only two games remaining in the regular season. They’ll need to leapfrog both Messalonskee and Skowhegan in the next week to secure the No. 8 seed — and final playoff spot — in the Class A North race.
Bapst meanwhile improved to 10-1-1, and stood at second place in the Class B North standings prior to Wednesday night’s game, behind 9-2-1 Winslow. The Crusaders’ victory clinched the season sweep over the Rams, having already beaten them 4-0 back on Sept. 14.
Bangor certainly put up a better fight on Wednesday, but the boys in purple were still able to score three minutes into the game, and with three minutes remaining.
Junior midfielder Oscar Martinez got the first one for Bapst, after drawing a foul in the 18-yard box and burying the ensuing penalty kick into the bottom right corner.
Martinez originally misplayed an oncoming pass in the box, but recuperated and tricked the Rams into tripping him.
“I tried to get the ball back as quickly as possible, and just went to work,” Martinez said. “It’s important to hustle often on the ball, and I got a PK.”
Senior Ellis Columber got the bookends for Bapst on a wild play in the 77th minute, tapping a loose ball past the Bangor keeper after a series of ricochets right outside the six-yard box.
“We might have been losing a little steam there, but [with] one last push at the end it was good to get one in,” Columber said. “It was a good fight, and it put it away.”
Bangor gave Bapst goalkeeper Connor Messervey a couple nice tests toward the end of the first half, but couldn’t string together any threatening shots on goal in the second half. The Crusaders did a good job of applying pressure all game, and keeping the ball in the attacking third.
The Crusaders’ game plan revolves around attacking as a team, and their experienced trio of juniors Logan Hart, Ethan Marquis and Oscar Martinez did a fantastic job marshaling the offense.
“We finished strong, and need to hold onto that mentality,” Hart said. “Presque Isle and Old Town coming up will give us a good fight.”
After Bapst plays those final two regular season games, the Crusaders will move onto the postseason and try to reach the state final for the second year in a row.
John Bapst was Class B North champion last year, before losing a heartbreaker to Yarmouth in the state final 3-2.
“We gotta stay healthy; last year we struggled with injuries in the postseason,” Hart said. “We have to come in with 100 percent intensity.”
Hart and Martinez believe the team’s confidence could get them over the hump this year.
“If we keep our confidence high — not overconfident or underconfident — and we perform, I expect us to go far this postseason,” Martinez said.