Hornets Score Late to Down Boys' Soccer Team

Manchester-Essex forward Alex Walder buried his second goal of the game with under 30 seconds left on the clock and the Hornets handed Marblehead their second loss of the young season Hopkins Field Thursday afternoon.

Marblehead opened up 2011 with a 5-0 loss to Lynn Classical; the Hornets dropped a 1-0 decision to Shawsheen to start their season.

The Magicians will play again this afternoon at Piper Field against the Lynn English Bulldogs.

“Tough way to lose the game absolutely, but we played so much better today than we did against Lynn Classical, I’m encouraged, not discouraged,” Marblehead coach Darren Benedick said. “We’ve got no time to mourn over this loss, we’ve got to get right back at it Friday afternoon against Lynn English, and I know we’ll be ready.”

Walder scored off a corner-kick midway through the first half to put the Hornets up 1-0; a great shot that hooked its way past goalkeeper Chris Pederson.

Marblehead tied things up a few minutes later, scoring their first goal of the season off of a penalty kick. A Manchester-Essex player was called for tripping in the penalty area and Josh Beloff blew the shot past Chris Xavier to tie it at one.

The Hornets thought they had scored the tying goal 45 seconds later, but the back referee waved off the goal and awarded Marblehead an indirect kick.

With the score tied 1-1 entering the second half, Marblehead really picked up their attack.

Rudy Mukania had two great chances to score for Marblehead, and Brett LeBlanc and Alex Blayer just missed giving the Magicians their first lead of the year.

Seb Wooding put the Hornets up 2-1 when he drilled a shot off his left foot inside the near post past Pederson, with 17 minutes left in the game.

Mukania tied the score for Marblehead with just over 4 minutes to go after being set up by a pretty passing play by Brett Leblanc and Chris Brady.

Brady got the ball on the left wing and slid it in front to LeBlanc who hit Mukania in stride and the game was tied.

“That number eight, (Mukania) was great for them, we really had a tough time covering him today,” Manchester Essex coach Robbie Bilsbury said.

Walder scored his second goal from in tight late in the second half and the Hornets cruised to a 3-2 win.

“This hurts, but we’ve got to get past this and come out firing against Lynn English,” Benedick said. “I know this team will score goals, we’ve just got to finish our chances better.”

Today's game at Piper Field is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.