Dulaney Secures Over-Time Victory Against Hereford

The Lions were able to pull a comeback win from Friday night's non-conference match against the No. 8 ranked Hereford Bulls thanks to a perfectly struck spot kick with just minutes left in overtime.

Despite playing the aggressor for more than 90 minutes, registering shot after shot on target, Dulaney struggled in front of the net, frustrated by Hereford keeper Michael Warns.

"I thought we had the most of that game … Their goalie was outstanding. He basically kept Hereford in the game. We could've had five goals in the first-half," said Dulaney coach Jerry Tana.

Dulaney maintained the majority of possession, mostly spent on the attack. In the first 20 minutes the Lions were able to break down Hereford's defense with a series of acute long balls, both through and over the last line.

Warns, a senior, was forced to stop at least three fast breaks as well as aerial pressure from Dulaney corners. Warns's backup, sophomore Eli Hess, was put through the rigors as well after Warns was substituted after taking a cleat to his right hand.

Still Dulaney could not break through.

"We definitely got out outplayed today," Warns said. "It's rough. My finger is killing me. It was tough going back in."

Warns's right hand was visibly swollen by the end of the match.

Then disaster struck for the Lions. After spending nearly the entire firs- half on offense the Lions were put on their heels.

A clever one-two pass between Hereford juniors Daniel Battle and David Endres set up striker Jack Prigel for a chip over Dulaney's defense. Endres ran on to the ball for a one-time-touch rocket to the upper-90, to take the game into the break.

The Lions switched their attacking style in the second-half, spreading the ball wider for crosses into the goalie box.

Dulaney co-captain Eric Upton made the run from defense to send a long cross to senior striker Nick Libertini to equalized with a header with 36 minutes left in regulation.

"We're a team that can do some damage if we can get our head together on finishing," Tana said.

Dulaney continued the attack for the remainder of the game outshooting the Bulls by a wide margin. Warns, again, came up big on two clear goal scoring opportunities for Dulaney from point-blank range.

Into the first over time period, Dulaney sent men flying down the flanks from the kick-off. The Lions' best chance in the opening period was a curling shot that dinged the far post.

Then, just three minutes into the second over-time period a stiff defensive challenge would set up Dulaney co-captain Mike Constantine for a direct kick just yards outside of the box.

"Every night I go to sleep and I wake up dreaming I'm going to score the winning goal. I'm going to run over there and I'm going to kiss that lion on the forehead," Constantine said about a sculpture mounted on the opposite side of the track, in front of the Dulaney supporters. 

The center-mid playmaker set up his shot and backed off the ball. 

"Instead of putting the ball down and shooting it, I put the ball down and I waited and I waited," he said replaying the dream in his head.

Constantine struck the ball just so, curving out of Warns's reach into the side netting. The crowded exploded with cheer. The team ran after Constantine who was already puckering up with the lion.

 "I'm ecstatic. I've never been happier in my life," he said.