DERRY – The final grain dropped from Pinkerton of Derry's hourglass of opportunity with about one minute remaining in Thursday afternoon's first-round Division I boys' soccer game.

Merrimack keeper Nathan Cushman was in position to save the chest-high shot and preserve his 11th-seeded squad's 1-0 win over No. 6 Pinkerton (11-6) and earn a Sunday afternoon bus trip to second-seeded Hanover's artificial pitch for a quarterfinal game.

Cushman saved nine shots. Only the final one was routine. The Astros controlled the flow of the game, outshot the eventual winners 21-4, but couldn't find the back of the net and lose their first preliminary round since 2004.

“That's like what has usually happened to us this season,” said Cushman after his club's record improved to 8-8-1. “We'd take a lot of shots, wouldn't score and then fall behind. I thought we were in trouble early on, but we turned things around.

Pinkerton had put 14 shots on goal, before Merrimack's Mike Conlin took his club's second shot of the game to net the game winner. The ball caromed off a couple of teammates before dropping toward the senior near the far post at 37:30.

“I got a nice hop but lost it in the sun. I put my hand up (to shield the sunlight), found the ball and put it right between the keeper's legs,” said Conlin, beaming a big smile after the game. “When you don't get many chances you have to find the frame.”

The goal was Conlin's fifth of the season, extending the senior's scoring streak to four straight games.

“We left the door open,” said Pinkerton coach Kerry Boles. “We've faced this situation all season long. When you have chances and don't put teams away in the first half you end up with unhappy endings.”

When the Astros failed to tally two goals they went 0-6 this season. They were undefeated when tallying two or more.

Merrimack knew Pinkerton's frustration, having lost five contests by one-goal margins and missing open opportunities in each match. Tough luck losses happened against undefeated Bedford, fourth-seeded Manchester Central, No. 5 Winnacunnet of Hampton and seventh-seeded Exeter.

“A final score or even a team record doesn't always reflect a team's worth,” said Ryan Farnsworth in his first season coach at Merrimack, his alma mater.

“Sometimes hard work isn't always rewarded. After every loss the other coach said they wouldn't want to face us in the tournament,” said Farnsworth. “This team worked hard all season. I kept telling them that eventually hard luck will create some luck.”

Tomahawks' defenders Justin Byrd, Andrew Curran, Jacob Stetson and Brody Stice repeatedly stymied Pinkerton opportunities. Still, Devin Croteau, Ryan Williams, Devin Moore and Tim Wood obtained glimpses of open net corners. Several veered wide. Once clanked off the crossbar. Cushman saved others.

Merrimack will face Hanover, which owns the most prolific offense in Division I without scrappy forward Cameron Knowles, who injured his right leg in a midfield collision in the 70th minute of play and was transported to the hospital via ambulance.

“We have a healthy respect for Merrimack. It should be a great game,” said Hanover coach Rob Grabill.

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Eric Emmerling may be reached at eemmerling@unionleader.com.