WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — The Hartford High girls soccer team came up just short of completing a comeback against Stratton Mountain on Tuesday, eventually falling to the Bears, 4-2, at Maxfield Sports Complex.
With around eight minutes to play in a 2-2 matchup, SMS senior Rylee
Smolenack cleaned up a loose ball in the box and put it in the back of the net to give Stratton Mountain the lead.
Hartford, which had owned possession in the second half and mounted several chances, was unable to answer the go-ahead goal and conceded another in the final seconds to set the final tally.
“I just feel like this has been the story of the last couple of games that we’ve been playing — like, we’re there, we’re playing well, we have the possession, and we’re not finishing our opportunities, then we make a mistake,” second-year Hurricanes coach Blake Lopes said. “And soccer can be kind of punishing like that.”
Things could not have started much worse for Hartford, as it conceded a goal in the first minute and a half of the game on a long free kick just past the outer edge of the center circle that went over sophomore keeper Dakarai Jones’ head.
It went from bad to worse for the Canes less than five minutes later as the Bears (1-1-0) netted another goal and led 2-0.
Hartford battled back, though. As the first half continued, the Canes began to create scoring opportunities and eventually broke through with 12:50 remaining on a penalty kick from sophomore Lucy Crowley.
The Canes were not done there, either. After fending off a surge from Stratton, Hartford drew a corner kick with around four minutes left in the half, and senior Sam Fraser finished a ball served by sophomore Carly Cote on the front post to tie the contest.
“I think this group of girls — they are kind of remarkable — because you forget, at the end of the day, you’re coaching … 14- and 15-year-old kids, and to teach them how to be resilient in those cases is tough. … I commend this team,” Lopes said.
Hartford’s head coach told her players at the break they had to go out and take the game, and they certainly tried. The Canes racked up shots from the likes of Crowley, senior Mackenzy Carrier, Cote and others but could not find twine.
Momentum shifted in the Bears’ favor with about 15 minutes remaining in regulation when Crowley picked up a yellow card and came off for a few minutes.
Stratton began to generate more possession and, around the eight-minute mark, got the go-ahead goal. The Canes drew multiple corners in the final five minutes and spent a solid amount of time on the attack but could not tie the game, allowing the Bears to net another goal for good measure as time expired.
Even in defeat, Lopes said that her team — which has suffered some close losses early in the season — is “right there” and just needs to finish late.
“I honestly pray for whatever teams we see because once that switch flips, it’s game time,” she said. “I feel like once the girls feel and get one of those under their belt, it changes their perspective. It changes their belief.”
Hartford (1-3-1) hosts Windsor on Saturday at 11 a.m.
