Middleton, Fla. — When The Villages High School girls soccer team scored less than two minutes into its match against Lecanto on Wednesday night, it seemed the contest would proceed in much the same fashion as their slew of home blowouts this season.
However, the visiting Panthers were more than prepared to make their comeback.
Lecanto (11-1-1) erased the early deficit and proceeded to claim the first victory by a road team at The Range at H.G. Morse Stadium, scoring twice on free kicks in a 3-1 victory over the Buffalo (6-2) at VHS.
"Bottom line, (Lecanto) gave more effort from the third minute in after we scored," VHS head coach Brian Rausch said. "From that point on, we just got too excited and let them bully us around."
The Villages' opening lead arrived in the second minute, when a perfect volley from Amelia Goller teed up a strike from Violet Dougherty.
However, the Panthers quickly took control of the game after the early concession, holding the majority of possession and putting relentless pressure on the Buffalo defense.
The equalizer came at the midway point of the first half, as sophomore Gabriella Malmberg curled a free kick from the left side of the pitch into the net, which went just out of reach for VHS senior goalkeeper Taylor Fugate for Malmberg's 23rd tally of the year.
After halftime, the Panthers continued to sustain their pressure and quickly earned a goal in the run of play when junior Trinity Converse hammered home a cross to beat Bailey Keller, who replaced Fugate in goal.
Another scoring free kick in the 54th minute, this time from senior Gabi Sanchez, was the final blow in the 78-minute onslaught.
The loss was The Villages' second in a row and first at home since moving to the school's new Middleton campus. The Buffalo will have until Jan. 9 to regroup, before taking on a potent P.K. Yonge (7-3-1) side in Gainesville.
"These games are going to get tougher from here on — P.K., Vanguard (Ocala), Springstead (Spring Hill)," Rausch said. "We've got to be prepared for the end of the season and it has to start now."
Drew Chaltry can be reached for questions or comment by calling (352) 259-6890.
