WILMINGTON — St. Elizabeth’s boys soccer team had some opportunities, but the Vikings were unable to match a first-half goal that was the difference in a 1-0 loss to Red Lion on Sept. 11 at Banning Park.
The Vikings put together a few chances about 15 minutes into the contest. Some pressure on the Lions resulted in a shot being deflected over the end line and a corner kick. Zach Tolvaisa had a shot out of the corner, but the Red Lion made the save.
St. E’s kept up the pressure, but in the 30th minute, the Lions struck. After a turnover, moved down the left side and sent a shot toward the goal. The ball bounced around near the left post, and the Lions’ Hunter McKenzie was able to skip the ball past Vikings keeper Justin Bozzo (Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish).
Bozzo kept the margin at one goal late in the half when he stopped a Red Lion shot. The rebound was sent off the left post.
The Lions kept the Vikings on defense into the second half. Bozzo stopped a shot on a counter, and a Red Lion free kick from 22 yards out went into the St. Elizabeth wall. About 15 minutes into the second half, the Lions had consecutive corner kicks, with Bozzo coming up with another save on the second.
The last best chance for the Vikings to equalize came around the 70th minute. Tolvaisa took a free kick from about 30 yards, but the keeper leapt and was able to prevent a top-shelf goal.
Final statistics were not available Thursday morning. Red Lion (1-0) visits McKean on Sept. 17 at 4 p.m. The Vikings (0-2) are back at Banning Park against Glasgow on Sept. 13 at 3:30 p.m.
Photos by Mike Lang.
