Bartlett’s junior forward, Patryk Linski, is regaining his form. In the final moments of Monday night’s match, he won a crucial foul and confidently decided to take the penalty kick. “I won that,” Linski recalled, as his team trailed with only 43 seconds remaining. “I was feeling motivated and confident,” he added.
Bartlett’s coach, Anthony Glorioso, had different plans, expecting another player to take the kick. However, Linski’s penalty conversion secured a 2-2 draw against Hampshire. Edwin Santillan scored Bartlett’s first goal, leveling the score at 1-1 in the first half. Hampshire’s Brian Vega scored earlier, and Momo Allnoch gave Hampshire the lead again in the second half.
When Linski lined up for the penalty, Glorioso initially expected Santillan to take it. He instructed Linski to be smart but was glad to see the shot succeed despite the misunderstanding. “That was miscommunication on my part,” Glorioso admitted. Linski explained his strategy, “I always stare at my chosen corner when there’s a delay, then look to the other side before shooting.”
Linski has shown improvement since a recent team trip to Iowa. Coach Glorioso noted, “He’s looked good since Iowa, finally playing his style of aggressive soccer.” A motivating talk with his father renewed Linski’s focus. “My dad’s speech before the Iowa trip cleared my head,” Linski said. “Now, I feel more confident and I’m getting more playing time.”
Hampshire, now entering a busy four-day stretch, has conference title aspirations. Their coach, Chayanne Martinez, managed player rotations carefully, aiming to keep the team fit. “We need everyone healthy,” Martinez stated. “With three games this week, maintaining health and executing basics is key.”
Bartlett senses potential for a strong finish. “The record is just numbers,” Linski remarked. “In playoffs, it’s about playing the game.”
Reporter Paul Johnson contributed this story to The Beacon-News.