LINWOOD — Down one of its two top scorers, the Mainland Mustangs avenged an early-season loss with a 2-0 shutout Oct. 4 over the Bridgeton Bulldogs.
Mainland got goals from junior David O’Donnell, who has been with the team only for a couple of weeks, and senior Tristan McDole to seal the victory.
O’Donnell’s goal, his second this season, was the result of quick thinking. Senior John Batty lined up a free kick just outside the box to the left of Bridgeton goalkeeper Jimmy Guzman. The ball hit O’Donnell and fell to his feet, and he fired it into the back of the net with 23 minutes remaining in the first half.
“It was just a natural reaction when he kicked the ball. I was right in the middle of the PK spot and I just tapped it in,” O’Donnell said.
“I just wanted to hit it on net and hope my teammates get the rebound,” Batty said.
The Bulldogs did not hang their heads, instead using quick passes and fancy footwork to maintain possession and pressure on the Mustang defense.
Batty said the midfielders did not have a lot of time due to constant pressure from Bridgeton.
The fragile lead hung in the balance through the rest of the first half and most of the second half until a misplay by Guzman gave Mainland an easy goal and put smiles on the faces of the frustrated coaching staff.
Late in the game, Guzman left his net to play a ball moving to the corner but sophomore Cooper Brookbank, who has 5 goals on the season along with the injured Aidan Clark, got there first and was able to get the ball around the ’keeper and into the path of McDole, who calmly fired it into the side netting for a 2-0 lead with 1:40 remaining.
It was a pivotal game for the two teams, who are fighting for position in the Cape-Atlantic League National Division.
“It was big to avenge this loss because it was one of the stains on our record,” head coach Alex Weidman said.
The Mustangs are now 6-4 overall and 6-3 in the division, second behind 10-0 Cedar Creek. One of their four losses came at the feet of the Bulldogs, who scored on a late penalty kick to tie and in overtime for a 2-1 win Sept. 14.
“This time around it was nice to show that one-goal early lead and grit it all the way out and all the way through. I was very proud of the boys for playing the full 80 and really finishing it,” Weidman said.
The win gave the Mustangs some breathing room ahead of Bridgeton, which fell to 5-7 overall, 4-7 in the division for fifth place.
Alex Weidman said the previous game with Bridgeton this season was similar in that Mainland got the early lead and held it for a long time. However, this time the Mustangs found the second goal.
The Mustangs had won five in a row before dropping their past two, 3-1 to Cedar Creek on Sept. 28 (lost 1-0 to Pirates on Sept. 9) and 5-1 to Seneca on Oct. 2.
Senior goalkeeper Tristan Miller made six saves in the win.
“Our players definitely came together today. We worked hard for our comeback from two straight losses. I think we really pulled it all together as a team and I think we are looking good for next week,” Miller said, referring to the upcoming Cape-Atlantic League Tournament.
“One of the things we talk about a lot with our goaltender is he is attached to the defense. The defense did a good job with a lot of tricky players — Bridgeton’s got a lot of talent where we have to force them into area so he can make easy saves. He made some good saves and was there when we needed him but it’s a whole unit,” Weidman said.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel sports