By PAUL GOTHAM
Less than one mile along Maiden Lane separates the campuses of Greece Odyssey and Greece Olympia. So when Dylan Ange found the back of the net in 85th minute, the goal triggered an emotional celebration.
That Odyssey trailed in the final minute of regulation only added to the significance.
Ange connected on his eighth goal of the season, and the Leopards triumphed 2-1 for their first win in Monroe County Division IV play this season.
“Our boys don’t stop,” the junior attacker said after his third game winner of the season. “Even though we’re down, we come through all the time.”
After Ceasar Castillo stymied a pair of earlier opportunities, Ange took a pass from Christian Amado and beat the Olympia goalkeeper on the near side.
“I was at the top of the box,” Ange explained. “The defender didn’t step and I saw the opportunity, had a couple taps and found the way through the D.”
Odyssey improved to 3-2-1 overall with the win.
“That was a great finish,” Odyssey head coach Scott Mikulski said. “A lot of times last year, he was trying to blast opportunities like that, using his laces rather slotting it to the corner which is something we’ve been trying to work on.”
It appeared unlikely at best Odyssey would get a chance to win. After controlling play for the better part of the second half, Olympia scored the match’s first goal in the 76th minute.
But Ange found Kameron Watt for the equalizer with 27 seconds remaining.
“Before it started, we knew it was going to be one of those games,” Mikulski stated. “I’m sure the next time we play them it’s going to be another close game. It always is no matter what.”
Scoring late goals is not unfamiliar for Odyssey and Ange who tallied twice in the final two minutes in a 2-0 win over Alfred-Almond and delivered the game winner in the 78th minute against Newark.
“His speed alone creates so many opportunities,” Mikulski said of his player. “All he needs is a little space.”
Guy Kadge gave Olympia the lead with 3:24 to go. The junior attacker took a pass from teammate Brandon Bruno on the left flank, cut it back against a defender and placed a shot in the far side-netting for a 1-nil edge.
Olympia, though, fell to 2-3-1 with the loss.
“I don’t think we’ve played our best soccer yet,” Olympia head coach Rob DuPrau said. “We still have a lot of room for improvement. When we settle down and play with some composure and execute the game plan, we are a pretty good team.”
The same two teams will close the regular season against each other on October 11th.
Olympia hosts Brighton on Monday, September. A 4:30 p.m. kick off is scheduled.
Odyssey will welcome UPrep on Saturday for an 11:00 a.m. start.
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