Red Storm boys soccer fall in home opener to NAC
Saranac Lake’s Ethan Knight shoots a direct kick toward Northern Adirondack’s net during Tuesday’s home game. (Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)
SARANAC LAKE — The Saranac Lake boys soccer team dropped its first match of the season, falling 2-0 to the Northern Adirondack Bobcats at Schroeter’s Field Tuesday afternoon.
The Red Storm gave up one goal in each half, and were never able to find the back of the net despite outshooting the Bobcats 7-5. Kameron Chinchilla scored early in the first half and Kaleb Guay essentially put the game away with the only goal after intermission.
Chinchilla’s goal was tough for the Red Storm to swallow as it was scored at 4:10 into the game and gave the Bobcats an early cushion. The goal was scored after Kingston Tucker made a pass to Chinchilla in front of the net.
“The first five to 10 minutes was forgettable (for us),” Saranac Lake head coach Brad Rafferty said. “We did not come out strong and gave up one early. (Tucker) was pretty talented with the ball, he was kind of our main focus.”
Northern Adirondack extended its lead early in the second half when Guay’s shot bounced off the hand of the Red Storm’s goalie Cedar Crist and into the back of the net.
“I think both teams fought hard,” Rafferty said. “(Just) a couple of bad bounces and that’s the game.”
Saranac Lake a few scoring opportunities in the second half, including a pair of shots from forward Mason Stoddard that sailed over the net.
“It’s tough because we gave up two easy ones. I think this could have easily been a 0-0 end, but we’ve got to figure out how to put the ball into the back of the net.”
Crist, a junior, had eight saves on Tuesday and Northern Adirondack’s Parker Manor recorded seven.
“Cedar had a good game in net,” Rafferty said. “He’s got a huge punt, so we’ve got to learn how to use that.”
Despite falling in its home opener, Rafferty was happy with the way his team played, considering his team didn’t have much depth.
“We were right with them the whole game,” he said. “We only had 12 guys today, with one sub, so it was an endurance match for us. I thought we were just as physical with them.”
The two teams will rematch on Oct. 2 in Northern Adirondack.
“We’re looking forward to seeing them later with a full bench,” Rafferty said. “We have a couple of guys that don’t have enough practices yet.”
Saranac Lake is slated to take on the Seton Catholic Knights on the road at 4:30 p.m. today. It will be the Knights first game of the season.
