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Tomás Melon fired a shot on goal from about 30 yards out during the second half of Thursday’s soccer game between PSA and Woodstock Academy. After nearly careening off the back of a teammate in line with the shot, the ball found the back of net and gave the Mustangs a 3-0 lead in a game they would go on to win 3-1.
Melon’s teammate Uriel Dalapo couldn’t stop smiling when recounting what he saw. All he could say of it was “that was the best goal I’ve seen here at PSA.”
Melon’s coach saw it as a just reward for a game well-played.
“It was a goal that gave us some breathing room,” said coach Ryan Dunnigan, “but I was really happy for him because he has had a really good performance for us before, but he’s never had the final product. And his performance in this game was really strong. He ran everything through the midfield, and he was our Man of the Match. His performance obviously deserved a goal and final product like that. He really deserved it.”
For Melon, he credited his teammate for making the play happen.
“Honestly, it was a great play by Fran (Cuñat),” he said. “He held onto the ball really well and I yelled at him with all my energy to bring it back. I saw an open space and I just touched the ball with my right foot and kicked it as hard as I could.”
It was Melon’s third goal this year for the young Mustangs, who improved to 2-2-1. As Dunnigan said, his play on the field has been strong throughout, and his leadership both on and off has been immeasurable. Back for his second year at PSA, Melon — a senior from Mexico — earned a leadership position in the dorms as a proctor, serving as a go-between for students and administrators for any number of issues. Then Dunnigan named him one of four captains just before the season started. It was an honor Melon took seriously but didn’t realize how serious it was.
“I think it has changed for me a little bit,” he said. “I think because our roster is so much younger than we’ve had before, most players see me as a person they look up to, in a way. At the beginning of the year, I didn’t think I would have much impact on the players but now I find myself in a lot of situations where the come and ask me (for advice) in situations on and off the field.”
As for the game with Woodstock, Dalapo scored twice in the first half before Melon’s insurance score.
“To take on a heavy-hitter like Woodstock and come away with three points is really, really good,” Dunnigan said. “Our performance was really, really strong. I think we were more into it, and sometimes you need a little bit of luck.”
The luck Dunnigan was referring to came on Dalapo’s first goal, about midway through the first half. Unai Castillejo played a direct kick onto goal where the keeper couldn’t control the save. Dalapo stayed with the play and put the loose ball into the net.
The second goal, with about five minutes to go in the half, demonstrated more skill than luck. After Castillejo played the ball up from the back, Dalapo put his speed on display, first by intercepting a Woodstock pass and touching it past the last defender, then getting to it first and touching it again past the keeper, before firing it home.
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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