Salesianum’s Jason Blackwell (left) celebrates after scoring on a penalty kick in the overtime period of Salesianum’s 3-2 overtime win over Indian River High School at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Tuesday afternoon.
HOCKESSIN – There was very little difference between the top boys soccer team in Division I and the top team in Division II on Tuesday.
Jason Blackwell scored on a penalty kick two minutes into overtime to give Salesianum a come-from-behind, 3-2 victory over Indian River at Hockessin Soccer Club. The intense game kept both teams under pressure in their regular-season finale, and could prove valuable when postseason play begins next week.
With the Indians playing a man down, the Sals’ Casey Kurlej was taken down inside the penalty area early in the first overtime period. Blackwell carefully lined up the penalty kick and went high to the right as Indian River goalkeeper Kevin Calles Zamora dove the other way.
“As soon as Casey drew the PK, I stepped up. I wanted to put it away,” Blackwell said. “I just picked my spot out and hit it hard, and it went in.”
Sallies (13-1-1), ranked first in Delaware’s Division I and sixth nationally by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, has won all three DIAA D-I titles and six straight overall. The Sals trailed 2-1 with 22 minutes to play, but rallied for the victory.
“They just keep working, and they don’t let that goal phase them,” Salesianum coach Scott Mosier said of his team. “We talk about when we give up a goal, how we react. You either get better when you make a mistake, or you get worse. When something bad happens, we try to get better.”
Indian River (12-3) is ranked first in Division II and has won two of the three D-II titles (2013 and ’15) since the state tournament was split into divisions. The Indians also lost 1-0 at D-I title contender Charter of Wilmington last Saturday, but will be battle tested for the playoffs.
“I think we showed really, really well in both games,” IR coach Steve Kilby said. “We focus on our defensive third and transition out of midfield. It paid dividends today, in regards to how long we stayed in the game.”
Salesianum’s Casey Kurlej (No. 22) tries to work past Indian River’s Arturo Mora Salas in the first half of Salesianum’s 3-2 overtime win over Indian River High School at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Tuesday afternoon.
The Indians were in it to the end, but needed Calles Zamora to keep them in it early. IR’s keeper made a brilliant, one-handed save on a point-blank chance in the 14th minute, then deflected a 12-yard blast by Gavin Ford off the crossbar and out in the 21st minute.
“Their keeper made some really good saves early,” Mosier said. “I thought that was crucial for them, to get a couple of saves early and keep it at zeros.”
Calles Zamora had no chance in the 30th minute, as a shot by the Sals’ Cole Bouchard deflected off an Indians defender for an own goal. But IR’s Mikie Mochiam leveled the score just one minute later, deftly dribbling through two Sallies defenders to create a beautiful goal.
“Mikie is a really special player,” Kilby said. “He finished the goal, and that was really nice.”
Calles Zamora got a foot on a hard, low shot by Bouchard in the 47th minute. Three minutes later, IR’s Johan de Jesus Corboda was awarded a 19-yard free kick that deflected off the Sals’ five-man wall and in for a 2-1 lead.
“We’ve been behind before, so we’ve dealt with it,” Blackwell said. “We just decided we were going to come back, and we had heart.”
That heart showed in the 58th minute, when a long ball into the penalty area deflected out to Ford. He could have settled it, but nailed it on the fly instead to tie the game at 2.
Indian River’s Mikie Mochiam (No. 8) cuts into the box as Salesianum’s Taylor Witherell (No. 7) tries to hold him back in the second half of Salesianum’s 3-2 overtime win over Indian River High School at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Tuesday afternoon.
“The ball just bounced out, and I hit it one time,” Ford said. “It was a great, great strike and it went in.”
Sallies keeper Gavin Campbell had to change directions and make a diving deflection when Corboda’s 28-yard free kick glanced off a three-man wall in the 72nd minute. Then the Indians lost a man due to a red card for a reckless challenge in the 77th minute.
Blackwell ended it early in OT, setting off a satisfying celebration. But the Sals knew they had been taken to the limit.
“They’re a great team. They’re probably the best in D-II team we’ve played all year, easily,” Blackwell said of Indian River. “They’re going to do great in the tournament. I think today was a great warmup game, a playoff-like game, for us.”
Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ
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Indian River’s Jared Cordoba is shown a red card after receiving his second yellow of the game in the second half of Salesianum’s 3-2 overtime win over Indian River High School at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Tuesday afternoon.
Salesianum’s Aidan Kelly (No. 23) tries to hold Indian River’s Johan de jesus Cordoba back in the second half of Salesianum’s 3-2 overtime win over Indian River High School at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Tuesday afternoon.
Indian River’s Arturo Mora Salas (No. 19) and Salesianum’s Jack Leonard (No. 24) fight for position on the ball in the second half of Salesianum’s 3-2 overtime win over Indian River High School at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Tuesday afternoon.
Indian River head coach Steve Kilby is shown a yellow card after arguing a call for one of his players in the second half of Salesianum’s 3-2 overtime win over Indian River High School at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Tuesday afternoon.
Salesianum goalkeeper Gavin Campbell (right) rushes out for a save in the second half of Salesianum’s 3-2 overtime win over Indian River High School at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Tuesday afternoon.
Salesianum’s Gavin Ford (left) gets a hug from teammate Cole Bouchard (right) as he reacts after scoring a goal in the second half of Salesianum’s 3-2 overtime win over Indian River High School at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Tuesday afternoon.
Indian River’s Jared Cordoba (below) collides with Salesianum’s Ethan Lupichuk in the second half of Salesianum’s 3-2 overtime win over Indian River High School at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Tuesday afternoon. Cordoba was shown a yellow card on the play.
Salesianum’s Bryce Wallace (No. 18) traps a cross in the first half of Salesianum’s 3-2 overtime win over Indian River High School at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Tuesday afternoon.