Holy Angels coach Ben Bushman had no doubt his team would pull out a home win over DeLaSalle on Thursday night.
Not even when the game was tied entering its 75th minute.
And certainly not when the shot of Stars’ leading scorer Ben Becker missed the Islanders' net by mere inches.
“The way we’ve won games in the past, I knew that we were going to come out victorious in the end,” Bushman said after Holy Angels edged DeLaSalle 2-1.
Christian Deaconson was the player who had dished a perfect pass to Becker on his late scoring chance and echoed his coach’s mindset.
“My reaction was that we’re creating chances and we’re going to win the game,” Deaconson said.
Deaconson created his own scoring chance with just under four minutes remaining in regulation. He swiped the ball from a Islanders defender and launched a shot using his off-foot that sailed over DeLaSalle goalkeeper Will Hagg and into the net for the game-winner
“In all honesty, I just got the ball and, by the grace of God, the ball went in,” Deaconson said with a laugh after the game.
“When we’re down, (Deaconson is) usually the guy that amps everyone up,” junior attacked Abraham Sanchez said.
Deaconson added an assist in the game, giving him five goals and nine points this season.
Sanchez started the scoring for the Stars, who are ranked No. 1 in the latest coaches’ poll, by tapping in a rebound off a Deaconson shot.
Sanchez’s goal squelched the Islanders' momentum after they opened the game with a goal from senior attacker Christopher Riera.
The goal was Sanchez’s 10th of the season, a marked improvement from last season’s three-goal total.
“We have a good, healthy, vibrant program here,” Bushman said. “Abraham is definitely a product of that.”
So is Deaconson, who is part of the life blood that keeps the program healthy.
“He helps that team heart continuously beat,” Bushman said. “He definitely plays a big role.”
