Brandon Escobar free kick advances Wildcats in 3-2 extra-time thriller

Oct. 17—The lads — as Coach Sean McNamara’s Mayfield boys side is known each fall — have faced numerous challenges in 2023.

Heading into the Division I sectional semifinal on Oct. 17 at South, the Wildcats had only four wins this season and had struggled with a 1-6-1 record since September 12.

There have been moments when Mayfield wondered if anything would go their way.

But on Oct. 17, things finally turned around — and the postmatch celebration clearly showed just how much it meant to a team that has endured so much.

⚽️ Mayfield sophomore striker Max Semenov shares his thoughts on the team’s 3-2 D1 sectional semifinal victory at South

This young player had an outstanding performance — although he had only scored 3 goals this season, you wouldn’t have guessed it from this match

He showed incredible work rate and determination, and managed to score twice pic.twitter.com/WhDOk3i40l

— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) October 18, 2023

Brandon Escobar’s free kick in the 103rd minute of double overtime propelled the Wildcats to a 3-2 victory over the Rebels, a fellow Western Reserve Conference team.

“I am incredibly proud of this team,” said Escobar. “Though our season didn’t go as planned, I really enjoyed the second half of it. We fought hard and trained well in our recent practices. I’m just happy that we gave it our all in this game. We left everything on the field.”

Mayfield (5-8-3) will face a tough challenge on Oct. 21 when they travel to North Canton Hoover, but for now, they can savor their thrilling victory in extra time.

The Wildcats had some difficult matches during their 1-6-1 stretch, especially a setback against University on September 14. The resilience shown by the team in this match spoke volumes.

“Throughout the season, we have emphasized fitness, but we don’t have a very deep bench,” said Coach McNamara. “We typically use only 13 or 14 players at most. But the players we relied on were absolutely fantastic today.

“We have struggled with scoring and defense this season, so we had to adjust our tactics.”

Nevertheless, they found a way to win. In a match that seemed destined for a shootout, Mayfield won a free kick on the right flank.

In a surprising turn of events, the match was decided by a set piece.

⚽️ Brandon Escobar’s free kick in the 103rd minute gives Mayfield a 3-2 victory at South @MayfieldSports @NHPreps pic.twitter.com/uCxZFnzYXw

— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) October 18, 2023

Escobar executed a perfectly weighted right-footed shot to secure the match-winner, celebrating as he sprinted towards the touchline. This goal was his fifth of 2023 and the 13th of his high school career, which began at Brush before he transferred to Mayfield as a junior.

“When I positioned myself for that free kick, I had a feeling that I was going to score,” Escobar explained. “With only three minutes left on the clock, I really wanted to score and send my team through to the next round.

“As soon as I struck the ball, I looked up and saw it go over the wall. I just had a feeling it was going to find the back of the net.”

The teams were deadlocked at 2-2 after regulation time.

Max Semenov opened the scoring for Mayfield in the 12th minute with a powerful shot to the upper-90.

⚽️ Mayfield takes a 1-0 lead

Max Semenov scores in the 12th minute pic.twitter.com/AxFfLW0iud

— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) October 17, 2023

The Rebels (5-11-2) equalized in the 17th minute with a penalty kick from Connor Heramb, following a foul in the box caused by a misplaced backpass from the Wildcats’ defense.

Semenov once again gave his team the lead at 2-1 in the 57th minute with a well-timed header on a cross from Jayden Burkey. The sophomore striker, who had only scored three goals this season, scored twice in this crucial match.

South equalized again in the 59th minute through Joris Boeman, who found himself in the right place to head the ball into the net.

⚽️ South equalizes with a goal by Joris Boeman in the 59th minute

Match tied 2-2 pic.twitter.com/oDz3IqxzaZ

— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) October 17, 2023

Semenov had a chance to complete a hat trick in the 91st minute, but was denied by Rebels goalkeeper Ben Wynn.

The save of the match came in the first minute of double overtime. Heramb unleashed a powerful shot towards the upper-90 from a distance, but Mayfield goalkeeper Micah Linn made an incredible tip save to keep the match level.

⚽️ Since I have it, here is that fantastic tip save by Mayfield GK Micah Linn in the 97th minute to keep it a 2-2 match

Connor Heramb had a great shot that almost put South ahead — it took something special to stop that, and Linn delivered pic.twitter.com/AuCEuXTiyS

— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) October 18, 2023

“I thought he had scored,” Escobar recalled. “I had my hands on my head, thinking, ‘Oh no, he scored.’ But luckily, Micah is an outstanding keeper. He made a fingertip save, one of the best I’ve seen in my life.”

McNamara added, “I thought it was going in. He used his high hand to push it over. Micah did incredibly well. The whole team performed admirably.”

And then, Escobar sent the visiting team home with a thrilling victory.

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