Backside Kick Lands Crespi in Front

A 30-yard free kick by Phil Fitzpatrick deflected off teammate Jimmy Sharp in the penalty area and into the goal Saturday, giving Crespi High a 2-1 overtime victory over St. Francis in a Mission League game at St. Francis.

Fitzpatrick said his blast, six minutes into extra time, caromed off Sharp’s rear end. Whatever its path, the goal boosted the Celts (8-3-1, 5-1 in league play) into first place.

St. Francis (11-4-4, 4-1-1) is tied for third with Loyola.

“I told [Fitzpatrick] to shoot it and we got what we were looking for,” said Rob Kodama, Crespi’s fourth-year coach. “When I got here we were the league doormat. Now we’re earning some respect.”

Crespi opened the scoring 10 minutes before halftime. Nathan Sciarra passed down the left wing to Sharp, who sent a cross to Darren Davies at the top of the box. Davies slotted the ball past charging goalkeeper Andy Ross.

The Golden Knights forged a 1-1 tie eight minutes into the second half on Anthony Zoric’s penalty kick prompted by a hand-ball call in the box against Carlos Gil of Crespi.

St. Francis held a 10-4 shot advantage, leaving Coach Glen Appels shaking his head.

“It was a day of missed opportunities for us,” Appels said.

“It was more of a battle and less of a soccer game, and those physical type of teams are the ones that have given us trouble.”