SOCCER: Liberty unable to finish off Mullen

Coach Mike Goyden shouldered the blame after watching 4A 2007 runner-up Mullen rally to beat his 5A Lancers 4-3 Saturday at Liberty High School.
"I thought with my coaching substitutions we broke the rhythm twice, in both halves, and we got scored on both times doing that," he said. "With a two goal lead we should have put them away."
Instead, Mullen junior midfielder Jared Roberts scored two goals, including the game-winner in the 58th minute, to lead the Mustangs to the come-from-behind road victory.
The Lancers (0-1) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, with both goals coming from junior Brandon Herre, but the Mustangs (2-0) fought back under the direction of newr coach Sean Keefe.
"I feel great about the team win," Keefe said. "It's a tough place to play. It's a soccer school. They're a great team. It would have been really easy to get down after two goals."
On the game-winner, Roberts took a pass from senior midfielder Nick Brant on the right wing and deposited the ball in the near side of the net and the Mustangs defense held for the final 23:20.
"It was a great run by Nick Brant who just carried it through the midfield, beat a couple of defenders and slotted it through to me and I had the finish," Roberts said.
The Mustangs took a 3-2 lead with 6:50 remaining in the first half on a goal by junior Nico Rodriguez.
The Lancers evened the score 4:40 into the second half with a goal by Ray, assisted by senior Andrew Nemechek. Roberts scored 12 minutes later.
The Lancers made a late push, playing most of the final minutes in the Mullen zone, but missed high and wide on two attempts. Another shot was blocked by a Mullen defender.
"We had so many chances and we just didn't put them away," Herre said.