MILTON, Ga. – Goals from Reece Degen (2020) and Carter Johnson (2021) were not enough to overcome a late penalty awarded to Alpharetta as Cambridge dropped a 3-2 decision at CHS Stadium on Friday, March 6th.
Following its season-long script (which is in dire need of a re-write), Cambridge conceded the opening goal in the 4th minute. Evidently feeling that was not enough of a challenge, the Bears granted Alpharetta another tally in the 20th minute for a 2-0 deficit. Degen pulled one goal back in the 26th minute, going full Beast Mode™ after collecting the ball at midfield, spinning left and making a brilliant 50-yard sprint while fending off 2 defenders before beating the Raider goalie to the bottom right corner. The Bears were fortunate not to concede again, as an Alpharetta shot hit the post in the 30th minute forcing a goal line clearance from Brett Highlander (2021).
The tying goal came in the 35th minute as a Luke Isler (2020) free kick found Carter Johnson (2021) in front of goal who slammed home the rebound after an initial save from the Raider netminder, and the teams went into halftime deadlocked at 2-2.
The Bears tried to press their momentum coming out of the break with Lucas Pegorer (2020) sending the ball inches wide from a dangerous position in the box in the 43rd minute, followed minutes later by an Erik Holmen (2021) free kick from 22 yards that just sailed high. It seemed only a matter of time before the Bears would take control of the game.
Unfortunately, as Yogi Berra would say, it was déjà vu all over again from the Chattahoochee match earlier in the week, as Alpharetta was able to thread a ball into the box in the 60th minute to an attacker who was unable to keep his feet, and a penalty was awarded and converted to put the Raiders up 3-2. Once again, Cambridge amped up their attack with Johnson then making a long run from midfield into the Raiders box before crossing to Degen, who beat the Alpharetta keeper but saw his shot hit the inside of the post. Degen once again was able to shake free from two defenders in the 72nd minute to setup a 1v1 opportunity in the box, forcing a quality save from the Raider goalie. The Bears fought through the final moments with their last best chance coming from a Highlander shot in the box that was just off target.
The Bears will try to get back in the win column at Pope High School on Tuesday, March 10th at 8:00PM.
Go Bears!
