RallyNorth.net

MANCHESTER — Winning doesn't always come about by just playing to one's strengths. Sometimes identifying and neutralizing the best attribute of your opponent is the best path to victory.

EXETER — Nick Valentine wasn't expecting to be called upon quite as early as he was, but the Pinkerton senior didn't hesitate when his turn came. Scoring on the seventh — and what turned out to be the last — penalty kick, Valentine provided the final margin in the Astros' 3-2 victory over top-seeded Concord in last night's Class L soccer semifinals at Exeter High School's Bill Ball Stadium.

Trevor Carignan scored on a partial breakaway late in the half and Pinkerton made it stand up in a 1-0 win over archrival Londonderry in the Division 1 quarterfinals. Peter Siragusa (9 saves) earned the shutout.

Josh Murphy scored the game-winning goal with only seconds left in regulation to give Pinkerton the 2-1 win over Dover. Pinkerton improves to 12-2-1 on the season.

In the annual Mack Plaque boys soccer showdown, Pinkerton nipped undefeated Londonderry, 2-1. Seniors Kyle Erhardt, Trevor Carignan, Hayden Hicks, Dan Barker and junior Alex Patrikis had exceptional games at both ends for Pinkerton, who got goals from Barker and Josh Murphy.

Trevor Carignan scored the game-tying goal and Tony Villavicencio scored the game winner in overtime for Pinkerton. Pinkerton beat Manchester Central 3-2 in overtime.

Fighting back from a two-goal deficit, Jed Duchene's score off a Sean Smith feed in the 92nd minute gave Pinkerton its biggest win of the season so far, a 3-2 thriller over Exeter. Seniors Dan Barker, Hayden Hicks and Kyle Erhardt helped turn things around for the Astros.

Sean Smith netted goals at the 10th and 32nd minutes, doubling his season total and helping Pinkerton to a 5-1 win over Nashua North in boys soccer.

In its season opener, Pinkerton boys soccer team delayed its celebration, but prevailed in the 96th minute on a goal from Alex Patrikis. Trevor Carignan got his second assist of the game on the play for the Astros.