NASHUA, N.H. — The Lebanon High boys soccer team was NHIAA Division II’s best in goals scored and goals allowed this season. Friday, however, the Raiders couldn’t earn enough positive markers in either category, falling, 2-1, to Bow in the division title game at Stellos Stadium.

Top-seeded Lebanon played from behind starting at the first half’s midpoint, when Carter Weiss’ uncontested and basic corner kick went off the hands of 6-foot-4 goalkeeper Zach Aldrich at chest level and inside the near post.

“It happens to the best goalkeepers in the world,” said 30th-year Lebanon coach Rob Johnstone. “Sometimes things align so that it happens in a tough spot.”

Lebanon tied the game five minutes before halftime on a play that began when fullback Benji Madori passed ahead to midfielder Otto Bourne, who made a dynamic and diagonal run towards the right post.

Bourne directed a low, had shot at the opposite pole and when the ball bounced off goalkeeper Aaron Barrieau’s hands, Nico Pentella was there for the tap-in finish.

The Raiders surrendered the winning goal 1 minute and 40 seconds later. The Raiders couldn’t cle ar their end, leading to a Falcons throw-in and Colby Smith’s dazzling shot from the top of the box and into the upper, right corner.

“A great finish,” said Johnstone, whose program won the 1991 and 2021 titles. The Raiders have been runners-up seven times, their first finals appearance coming in 1985 against Keene.

The second half saw second-seeded Bow, which fell to Lebanon during the regular season, “park the bus” in front of its goal. Soccer slang for pulling all 11 players back in a defensive shell, the tactic didn’t offend Johnstone.

“They did it as they should,” he said. “They’re trying to win a championship.”

Bourne, Pentella and Nick Brill were the Raiders’ best attacking players all season and repeatedly hurled themselves at the Falcons during the second half. They created several dangerous chances but no finished plays. Asked if those players had tried to accomplish too much on their own, Johnstone demurred.

“You need to allow your special, offensive players to take those chances,” he said. “Two or three times it doesn’t go their way, but then on another it does and it changes the game.”

Lebanon finished with double-digit corner kicks and Johnstone noted the teams’ contrasting styles. Lebanon built from the back, attempting to string passes together until prime scoring chances materialized. Bow, the coach felt, played in a more direct way. Johnstone emphasized he wasn’t criticizing the opposition.

“They bash the ball forward to (Luke Hartshorn), who’s their best player, and work to get throw-ins and corners and create dangerous moments,” he said. “Soccer’s an interesting game that way.”

Lebanon will graduate 11 players including Brill, midfielders Conner Chinn and Will Katz and central defender Bennett Hewett.

Tris Wykes can be reached at twykes@vnews.com.