Francis Lewis falls short of ultimate goal yet again

Francis Lewis had every reason to be feeling good heading into penalty kicks against Beacon. The Patriots have twice gotten the better of the Manhattan powerhouse in the semifinals in the same situation and had hulking Adelphi-bound goalkeeper Chris Herrera in net.

“We were confident we were going to win,” Herrera said. “Anything can happen in PKs.”

The wrong trend continued for No. 2 Lewis. After 100 minutes of scoreless soccer, fourth-seeded Beacon bested the Patriots for its second PSAL Class A boys soccer title, 4-3, on penalty kicks at Belson Stadium on the campus of St. John’s University Sunday evening. It was the Patriots' third loss in the final in the last four years and their second straight.

Damion Reid

Francis Lewis' Nate Richardson is inconsolable after his team lost to Beacon in the PSAL Boys A soccer championship game.

Photos: PSAL Class A city championship game

Damion Reid

Lewis' Chris Herrera' yells after making a key save.

Photos: PSAL Class A city championship game

“It gets harder and harder every time we play no matter what team it is when you keep losing,” midfielder Nate Richardson said.

Herrera got Lewis (16-1-0) even at 2-2 in the PKs when he acrobatically reached back with his left hand to stop a Walker Latham shot. Lewis coach Roger Sarmuksnis said Richardson, who was noticeably slowed after injuring his right thigh earlier in the match, told him he was capable of shooting. The coach didn’t think twice about going with his veteran.

“We would let him win or lose it,” the coach said. “As a senior he earned it.”

Richardson shot to his favorite spot to the lower right corner, but Beacon goalkeeper Max Brown made his second diving save of penalty kicks. Herrera, who converted his penalty kick, dove right as Joseph Nikic scored the winner to the opposite post.

“They threw me off,” Herrera said. “I didn’t know where the ball was going.”

His team may not have even made it to penalty kicks if it has not been for his play in net during regulation, helping to hold off waves of Beacon (15-2-1) pressure. Herrera made a diving save to his right on a Latham shot from 20 yards out midway through the second half. Shortly after Daniel Bedoya has a shot from the box turned away. Anthony Cavieles appeared to have a free look at the net in the left side of the box in the second overtime, but stout Beacon defender Jesse White cut off his angle.

Sarmuksnis felt his team was fatigued as the game wore on, which allowed Beacon to control play. He credited Blue Demons coach Alec Mahrer for playing a defensive style early to save his side's energy and was certainly proud of his own kids, who won the school’s fifth straight Queens A East title and haven't lost a league match in four years.

“Beacon truly deserved it,” Sarmuksnis said. “They were the best team in the city this year. ... We took Beacon out two times in the semifinals in penalty kicks and they take us out this time. It’s very well deserved.”

jstaszewski@nypost.com