Hammond’s Overtime Goal Puts Littlerock Under, 2-1

Give Jeff Hammond an inch and he’ll take you for a goal. Give him additional space and the penalties increase, as the Littlerock High boys’ soccer team learned Wednesday.

Hammond, a Saugus forward, scored twice in a Southern Section Division II wild-card match, lifting the host Centurions to a 2-1 victory in double overtime.

Hammond’s second goal, his 28th, came in the 113th minute and moved Saugus (18-4-3) into a first-round match against Buena. The Bulldogs scouted Wednesday’s contest and will presumably shadow Hammond’s every move.

If so, they will have learned from Littlerock’s mistake--which was to give Hammond acres of open field in which to roam.

“I didn’t expect so much space,” Hammond said. “When guys know your name and number before the game you figure you’re going to get teamed up [on defense].”

Despite the room to run, Hammond was initially stymied by the Saugus midfield’s inability to get him the ball, and Littlerock (13-5-4) took a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute on Leonard Griffen’s 12th goal.

Eleven minutes later, Centurion Kevin Bonilla corralled a Littlerock turnover near midfield and made a forward pass. Racing into the Lobo penalty area, Hammond scored from 15 yards.

From there, the match deteriorated. Where the teams had passed the ball upfield, they now cleared it from end to end. After 80 minutes of regulation play and another 20 of overtime, 20 minutes of sudden-death play began.

Thirteen minutes into that segment, Hammond gained possession 35 yards from the Lobo goal. He dribbled past two defenders and ripped a left-footed shot inside the right post from 18 yards.

“I didn’t see anyone to pass to so I thought I’d unleash [a shot],” Hammond said. “Thank God it’s over because I don’t know if I could have played another five minutes.”