By Allison Goldsmith
I&M Sports Editor
The boys soccer squad rolled to three straight victories this week, including back-to-back shutouts over Sturgis 7-0 and Methuen 1-0 on the road and a 2-1 win against Cohasset at home.
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Photo by Jim Powers
Boys varsity soccer action against Cohasset on Monday. |
The Whalers, who were scheduled to visit Martha’s Vineyard yesterday, too late for this edition of Sports, improved to 7-3-1 overall (4-0 Lighthouse Conference) and are within one win of a postseason berth.
“We had a good stretch of games here with a couple solid wins,” head coach Rich Brannigan said. “They seem to be on a good roll playing as a team and everyone contributing. That kind of team mentality and team success is bring everyone along. We have a lot of unselfish players on the team and everyone seems to be doing their part.”
The soccer squad has a six-day break from games to rest and heal following the Vineyard game in preparation for the final six games of the season. The Whalers will wrap up the Lighthouse Conference schedule with games against Sturgis and Provincetown as well as non-league games against Norwood, Abington and Cohasset in the final two weeks of the season.
In the home meeting against Cohasset Monday, the Whalers controlled the midfield and most of the possession while opening a 2-0 lead midway through the second half.
The Whalers got on the board early in the first half. Roneik Gordon worked the ball into the left corner, drawing the Skipper defense. In front of the net, Luke Daniels was perfectly positioned, took the pass and tapped it past the keeper for the 1-0 advantage.
Nantucket had opportunities to open the score as Philipe Bazilio and Gordon each had solid shots on net. The best chance came on a run out of the backfield by Devon Kohler 10 minutes into the second half. On a give-and-go move, Kohler went in one-on-one with the keeper but was unable to convert for the goal.
“That is the kind of creative movement and unscripted play that I am trying to get my players to do. It was so effective. That is the kind of thing that good teams in the playoffs will do on a regular basis,” Brannigan said.
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Photo by Jim Powers
Senior co-captain Henry Farrell heads the ball out of the defensive end during Monday’s 2-1 victory over Cohasset. |
Emerson Guzman finally tacked on the ensurance goal midway through the half. The outside midfielder carried the ball to the top of the box, made a few moves around three Cohasset defenders and flipped the ball over the top of the goalie’s head for the score.
“In the second half after we scored our second goal, I think we got a little complacent and sat back. We probably didn’t win as many 50/50s as we should have or attacked like we had attacked,” Brannigan said.
Despite the slight let down, the Whalers defense was solid in front of Alex Perkins in net.
“Defensively I was really happy with the guys. Cohasset didn’t really get through or around our defense either. They were settling for outside shots and that was what they scored on,” Brannigan said.
The Skippers pressed late in the second half and scored when Jack Murphy collected a ball outside the box and sent a rocket toward the upper right-hand corner to put his squad on the board.
The Whalers made the long trek to Methuen Saturday and came away with a close victory.
“Both teams were really evenly matched. It was a real defensive game. Neither team had a ton of offense,” Brannigan said.
Perkins was key in goal for Nantucket, earning his second shutout in as many days. While the Whalers defense kept the Rangers attack on the outside, the sophomore goalie was able to cleanly collect most shots on net without giving up a rebound opportunity.
Jose Ramirez had the best scoring opportunity of the game in the first half when he broke free on a fast-break run at net. The ball went over the top and the game remained scoreless.
Five minutes into the second half the Whalers were awarded a penalty kick. Bazilio capitalized on the opportunity to give Nantucket the big 1-0 advantage in the defensive battle. The Rangers were awarded a penalty kick a few minutes later, but their top offensive threat shot the ball wide of the post on the ground.
“Alex guessed the right way and maybe the shooter saw him moving the same way, made an adjustment and put it wide,” Brannigan said. “That was a big play. Mainly, Alex didn’t give up any rebounds. He had a couple kids that hit rifles from the outside and he was able to hold them and not have any loose balls. It was really a big game for him.”
Against Sturgis the Whalers took the 3-0 lead in the first half and never looked back en route to the league victory.
“Sometimes you go into games like that and you wait a little too long to get the result you want. We scored early in the half and two more times before halftime and that gives the kids some confidence,” Brannigan said.
Gordon led the Whalers with three goals, while Bazilio scored twice, both in the second half. Kohler and Guzman also scored for the Whalers, while Bryan Tarcitano and Tony Rickets tallied assists.scored.”
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