By Kevin Eickman
In a dramatic finish on Thursday, the Milford Buccaneers soccer team edged out the visiting Lake Forest squad with a last-minute goal, securing a 1-0 victory. The match, which appeared destined for overtime after more than 80 minutes of intense play, turned in favor of Milford during stoppage time.
With the game in its final moments, a defensive miscue by Lake Forest proved costly. As the Lake defense attempted to clear the ball from their zone, a misplaced pass found Buccaneer player David Carillo. Seizing the opportunity, Carillo quickly transitioned to offense, delivering a precise pass to junior Rikelmer Ramirez-Arreaga, who sprinted down the open right side. Ramirez-Arreaga skillfully found the back of the net, clinching the thrilling win for Milford.
The match featured a back-and-forth battle from the outset. Milford applied early pressure, but Lake’s senior goalkeeper James Watterton denied an early goal with a remarkable save on a bicycle-kick attempt from sophomore Youvenson Dominique just 10 yards out. Both goalkeepers showcased their skills throughout the contest, keeping the scoreline tight.
Senior keeper Fernando Flores was equally impressive for Milford, consistently stepping up when needed. “We know how good a team Lake is, so it took a solid effort from our entire back line to keep them out of the net,” Flores remarked. “Even when it looked like we might have to play overtime, I was confident our team would get the job done.”
Reflecting on his game-winning goal, Ramirez-Arreaga expressed gratitude for the timely opportunity. “As soon as I saw David get the ball, I started my run. He placed a beautiful pass to me, and it was just up to me to finish the job. When you find yourself wide open like that, it’s important to keep your focus,” he said.
Milford entered the match seeking redemption after a narrow 2-1 loss to Dover earlier in the week. Coach Prince Kemmerlin praised his team’s resilience in overcoming that setback. “We knew the first thing we had to do was put Tuesday behind us because Lake Forest is a very good team. We had a good practice leading into the game and were mentally prepared. The fact that this game came down to the end didn’t surprise me at all,” Kemmerlin stated.
The Buccaneers, now 4-1 on the season, face another challenge as they host Sussex Academy, also sporting a 4-1 record, on Tuesday at 5:30 PM.
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