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Dombrowski’s game-winner lifts Athens past Avondale

Dan Stickradt | September 30, 2011 | Comments (1)

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

AUBURN HILLS — Since opening the season with a 0-2 record, Troy Athens has found multiple different ways to win on the soccer pitch.

The Red Hawks found a little flair in the waning moments Thursday to slip past Auburn Hills Avondale.

Athens, which is 8-1-1 in its last 10 games with the only blemishes being a 1-0 loss to No. 3 Troy and a 0-0 draw with New Baltimore Anchor Bay, picked up a goal in the fourth minute, then the game winner with 2:07 left to upend the host Yellowjackets, 2-1, in an OAA crossover game at Avondale’s new Dick Bye Stadium.

The Red Hawks scored a pair of goals that were far from a thing of beauty, but still enough to propel them to another win.

“We scored two not very good looking soccer goals, but we found a way to grit a game out without our top offensive player,” said Heugh, who was without the services of senior midfielder Alex Serwatka, out with the flu. “A goal is a goal.”

Receiving a long through ball from defenseman Tim Freiman, Dombrowski beat his mark in the corner and his high bending shot sailed just off the finger tips of Avondale sophomore goalkeeper Ben Richter and under the crossbar for the game winner.

“Our defender, Tim Freiman, made a really good play for us,” praised Heugh. “Instead of just winning the ball and getting rid of it right away, he saw he had a little bit of time and space. He brought the down the field and a defender to him, which opened up the space outside for (Dombrowski). I don’t know if he was trying to cross it or shoot it.”

Scoring chances were at a minimal, although the Red Hawks had more chances in the contest. Athens outshot Avondale 12-7, including 8-4 with shots on frame.

The Red Hawks scored on their first attempt of the game in a bizarre fashion.

Athens’ Max Klitzke rifled a shot towards the left corner from 25 yards out, only to see the ball skip off an Avondale defender’s heel and into the opposite corner with 36:29 still left on the clock in the first half.

The lead stood until Avondale senior forward Nathan Chapman volleyed home a close-range shot in the box with 4:!5 to play in the first half. Joe Davison’s serve into the box was flicked by Garrett Ritterhaus over to Chapman, who redirected the ball in traffic to tie the game at 1-1.

“I think their goal was a perfect example of how hard they work,” noted Heugh of Avondale. “I didn’t think we worked as hard as we could have in the first half, but in the second half, the field started to tilt a little bit in our favor. We got fortunate this time. We scored two goals that weren’t the prettiest of goals.”

The two teams played 42 minutes of scoreless soccer after that point until Dombrowski’s late-game heroics.

“I thought we went toe-to-toe with what I think is one of the best teams in the state and I was proud of our effort,” said veteran Avondale coach Muczynski said. “I think that Todd Heugh has done a fantastic job with this team in a short period of time. Replacing a legend like Tim (Storch) is not easy. But he’s been able to put his stamp on that team and they are playing very good soccer right now.”

Brett Schmitz finished with three saves for Athens (8-3-1) to gain the win, while Richter made six saves for Avondale (8-4-2). Richter was brought up to varsity three weeks ago and Avondale has improved its goalkeeping situation by leaps and bounds.

“He’s technically a very strong keeper,” offered Muczynski of Richter. “There are some growing pains. I would rather see them here than in the tournament so he can make adjustments and get mentally stronger. He made some saves (tonight on shots) that should have flat out gone in. He’s getting better.”

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