Leonard, Lake Worth share spoils
LAKE WORTH — Julio Torres’ 10th goal of the season was a shoo-in, but sometimes that’s all you need to claim a point against a quality opponent.
John I. Leonard’s junior leader saw a Trojan defender slip and caught the goalkeeper out of position, slotting home the Lancers’ equalizer in the second half of Wednesday night’s 1-1 game.
To that point, it had been all Leonard, which jumped ahead with Edwin Benitez’s second goal of the season for the Lancers, who would continue to fire at will toward the net but fail to secure a late winner.
Here are three takeaways from Wednesday night’s action between Lake Worth and John I. Leonard.
Shots fired but little luck in final third for Trojans
The Trojans achieved their first-half goal via the foot of Benitez, but with six more shots on goal, they might have expected a few more.
Lake Worth peppered the net with shots but while their possession in the final third was hopeful, the finishing touch was just off, an unfamiliar result for the high-flying Trojans.
Tasked with holding off visiting Leonard after going up 1-0, a slip on defense and a bad-luck sequence showed Lancer striker Julio Torres through on goal uncontested.
He delivered, and despite the home squad’s advantage in possession to close things out, Lake Worth couldn’t deliver a winner.
“We walk away 1-1, and we’re disheartened by that,” Lake Worth head coach Craig Reger said.
As the season enters its final third, neither squad seemed particularly thrilled with the result.
Torres continues to pace Leonard as goal tally enters double digits
Torres may have had one of his easier goals of the season on Wednesday night, but it was an important one nonetheless.
Helping his team escape with a point from the tied match with his 10th goal, Torres has the Lancers recovering from a sluggish start — in head coach Carlos Alas’ opinion.
“I wish we had a few more wins than we have right now,” Alas said. “We ran into a little snag here at the beginning of the season, and we’ve been trying to get as many wins as possible with these power rankings that they have, trying to get that district championship. We’re just taking it one game at a time. With Julio, I think we can do something.”
While the junior’s on-field excellence is a driving force for Leonard soccer, he’s also developed into a positive leader for the Lancers, picking up players when they’re down and galvanizing the team.
“He’s a great leader,” Alas said. “If our players are feeling a little down, he gets their spirit back up and he takes charge. He’s a great team player, but he’s also a great individual, and when necessary, he assumes control and does what he needs to do.”
Dancing around the tripped defender and catching the opposing goalkeeper in a bad spot, Torres’ equalizer was met with perhaps more excitement from his teammates than the cool and collected striker.
Certainly a “been there, done that” attitude from the forward, who verified his goals total by pulling out his phone and tallying up his scores after Wednesday’s match.
“I try to bring everyone up,” Torres said. “Nobody likes to lose. Whenever we’re playing bad, just got to encourage the team.”
Lake Worth’s .500 record far from indicative of team’s talent
The Trojans’ 5-5-2 record belies the team’s on-field success, and the proof is in the schedule.
Lake Worth has faced a series of opponents loaded with talent this year, boasting a resume of wins over Forest Hill and Park Vista, and quality ties against Spanish River and now John I. Leonard.
The program played Palm Beach Central and Royal Palm Beach close, losing to each by a single goal — and while no team is going to gloat over a loss, the Trojans’ performances in both have proven them a team to be reckoned with.
“One hundred percent,” Reger said. “Our team is historically done very well with the ball on the foot. As a team, we’re still a work in progress, but absolutely, our strength of schedule is tough and the kids are starting to gel. If we can put this thing together as a team on the field, we’re going to be one tough team to beat.”
Reger described the talent and individual skill sets of his players as “over the moon,” and the proof is in the pudding — both the ball control and the shooter’s touch were on display during Wednesday’s hard-fought tie.
Despite a 50-50 record in the win-loss column, the quality of competition has certainly prepared Lake Worth for a playoff run, should the team earn a berth.
And if they do, no team is going to want to face a team with the kind of track record the Trojans have established.
“This is a playoff team, and I expect our team to do some real damage in districts,” Reger said.