SUNAPEE, N.H. – After finishing the regular season with a record of 13-3, the Sunapee boys soccer team earned the No. 3 seed in the NHIAA D-IV playoffs. They opened up the tournament by hosting No. 14 Hinsdale (6-9) on Tuesday, and in the rain-filled opening round game, Sunapee rolled, beating the visiting Pacers 6-0 after just a 1-0 lead at the half.
About halfway through the first half, the Lakers’ offense had Hinsdale on its heels on almost every possession with nice combinations and good touches. Still, Sunapee played almost thirty minutes before scoring their first goal.
“In the first half we had a lot of shot opportunities,” said Lakers head coach Jack Iacopino. “Their goal keeper came up big.”
With 11 minutes left in the opening half, Michael Mullen scored on a 2-on-1 by sneaking a grounder in from the right side.
“Mullen’s first goal took a little pressure off of us,” said coach Iacopino. “A one-goal lead at the half is a bit nerve wracking, but in the second half the hard work really paid off.”
Sunapee played with the wind and high-velocity rain in their direction in the second half, while the Pacers were forced to go into the wind. The Lakers were playing downhill all half, as they racked up five goals.
After eight minutes had passed and multiple shots were saved by Hinsdale, Sunapee finally broke the game open by scoring three times over a span of three minutes.
Lane Smith scored from the left side for a goal on his birthday, Mullen scored on a cross from Darren Hulton, and Jackson Cooney scored on a breakaway goal with the assist from Mullen.
Mullen scored three minutes later from deep to secure his playoff hat-trick.
The Lakers added another goal late on a Hinsdale own goal just before lightning prohibited further play with just few minutes left on the clock.
On the day, Jordan Chappell, Brendan Kelleher, Hulton, Mullen, and Cooney all had assists for the Lakers as their rapport on offense looks to be clicking at the right time.
Sunapee now moves to the quarterfinals and will play No. 11 Wilton-Lyndeborough (7-7-2) after they upset No. 6 Profile on Tuesday, 3-2 in overtime.
The quarterfinal game is scheduled for Friday at 3 p.m. in Sunapee, as the Lakers will look to head to the D-IV semifinals.
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