Targeted passing and flooding ConVal’s end made the difference Saturday as Lebanon High School notched a 2-0 win over ConVal in the quarterfinals of the Division II boys’ soccer playoffs.   

The Raiders ended the fourth-seeded Cougars’ season with one goal in each half, helped along by keeping the ball on the carpet and going all out for the many 50/50 balls all afternoon.  The Cougars displayed solid ball control from the start, but the Raiders covered the home team in a man-to-man format that made completing passes and penetrating Lebanon's zone a challenge.

Lebanon had the edge winning the game’s many throw-ins, sometimes sending headers on to two or three other Raiders. This aggressive approach to the air paid off with less than 10 minutes gone in the first half. Junior Benji Madory fed Miles Saunder out front, who buried it to give the Raiders the lead. 

The edge gave Lebanon momentum that ConVal senior William Suchocki-Sulborski stemmed for a bit with a timely header that thwarted a Raider rush.  Cougar sophomore Brody Way moved the ball downfield with sharp ball control, but was triple-teamed, which kept ConVal from capitalizing on his effort. At the other end, Cougar goalie Anthony Gutwein kept it close by coming well out of his crease to render a Raider breakaway for naught. 

After winning more headers in the second half, Lebanon passed the ball with authority. Just over 12 minutes in, Nico Pantell’s corner kick found senior Abe Pearson, who sneaked it past the laid-out Gutwein.  Cougars Esben Anderson and and Ryan Close on defense helped Gutwein to keep the score 2-0.

Raider goalie Bode Price stopped River Allen’s shot off a feed from a corner kick. Coming back with more precise passing, Lebanon kept up the pressure in ConVal’s zone such that Cougar shots on goal at the other end were rare as the clock wound down. 

Cougar senior Kyle Austin reflected on the effort and his team afterward with emotion. “These guys, by being who they are, all made me better this year,” he said.

“It was a great season,” said sophomore goalie Gutwein. “We had our ups and downs. For these seniors, we’ll want to carry on their legacy.”