As the clock ticked down on the Pam Pack’s season finale the team made one last push to avoid ending the year without a win, but in the end it could not keep pace with West Carteret as Washington fell 2-1 in double-overtime to its Coastal Conference rival on Tuesday.
The loss left the Pack with an 0-15-2 record on the season, but the effort to get to overtime would boost the spirit of seniors Oscar Alvarez-Ortiz, Martin Morales Sylvester Bolivar Will Swain, Nick Lietz, Coleman Smithwick and Lee Pinkham, who each played their final game at Washington High School.
Though the season didn’t quite go the way he wanted, Washington coach Jimmy Kozuch was happy to see his team play hard in the finale.
“I thought our effort tonight was much better than it’s been,” Kozuch said. “They played with intensity and a sense of urgency. We were able to keep the score close and come back against a good team but unfortunately we just came up a little short in overtime.
In what would be an extremely physical game, the Pam Pack surrendered a first half goal and would trail 1-0 going upon the conclusion of the first stanza. After the break, the Washington defense, led by goalie Seth Correl, clamped down on the Patriots as the Washington attack tried desperately to punch one in.
After a near miss in which the West Carteret goalie stopped the ball right on the goal line, the Pack finally broke the ice. A direct kick by Washington ricocheted around the Patriots goal until Nick Lietz was able to get a foot on and boot it past the keeper to knot the game at one apiece at the 14:20 mark.
The score would stay that way throughout regulation as Correl and his Patriots counterpart each made some big saves as to send the game into OT.
In the first overtime period, Washington was able to produce some quality scoring chances but failed to cash in on them as the two teams would stay locked at 1-1 heading into the second OT. It was there that West Carteret would break the stalemate and spoil Washington’s Senior Night.
“The guys played hard, unfortunately they scored on a corner kick, that’s been a problem for us all year,” Kozuch said.
After the game, Kozuch said he will miss his seniors and praised their effort throughout the season.
“The seniors are all really good guys and they all worked hard,” Kozuch said. “It’s been a pleasure to have them.”