By Allison Goldsmith
I&M Sports Editor
The boys varsity soccer team wrapped up its regular-season schedule this week with 4-0 victory over Abington and a 2-1 loss at Div. I Norwood.
Nantucket was on a 10-game undefeated streak before falling to the Mustangs Friday. Despite the loss, the surging momentum over the last month – during which the Whalers have outscored their opponents 28-6, has the team looking forward to the postseason.
The boys squad, which finished at 12-4-2, drew the fifth seed in the Division III South Sectional Tournament. Nantucket will host the winner of Friday's Archbishop Williams/Norwell game on Sunday. Game time has yet to be determined.
“I think going forward, everyone is really excited about the playoffs. There is a good energy among the team. Guys like to work for each other. All season long we have had different guys shine at different moments and step up in different areas,” head coach Rich Brannigan said. “We have some veteran players that were around for previous playoff seasons. They know how to compete and they know how to play in big games. They were in those big games two and three years ago. They are familiar with that.”
In 2005 and 2006, Nantucket made thrilling runs to the sectional quarterfinals and finals, respectively, playing a number of nail-biting games. The Whalers missed out on the postseason last fall when forfeited games knocked them below a .500 winning percentage. The core returned this season looking to return to the postseason.
First things first
After losing to Nantucket the weekend before, Norwood was out for revenge against the Whalers in the second match-up of the season Friday afternoon.
“Norwood was definitely pumped for the game. We weren’t able to match their energy level. They were trying to prove a point and it seemed like they had trained for us all week,” Brannigan said.
The Whalers were playing without one of their top playmakers, outside midfielder Emerson Guzman, who suffered an ankle injury against Abington Wednesday.
Despite the high intensity level of the Mustangs, the Whalers got on the board first. After five minutes of Norwood attack, Nantucket took its first opportunity on the other end of the field and on a combination play, Philipe Bazilio scored off a Roneik Gordon assist.
The Norwood coach immediately called a time-out and the Mustangs came out with a strong defensive look that kept the Whalers out of the net for the remainder of the game.
Norwood scored a goal early in the second half and then tacked on the go-ahead score before the midway point.
The Whalers had a chance to even the score later in the half on a one-on-one run on net by Bryan Tarcitano. The senior midfielder made a run down the center of the field and went in strong against the keeper, but despite the collision, the ball bounced out to the side away from the goal.
Top of the line
The Whalers were in top form against Abington last Wednesday.
“It was probably one of our best games of the year as far as attacking style went. Everybody was making really dangerous runs. The ball-handlers were finding the runners and playing the ball into dangerous areas of the field. It was one of those games where you take it to your opponent all day,” Brannigan said.
Tarcitano and Emil Bender were key in the midfield, creating numerous chances for the forwards, while in the outside backfield Will Lendway and Devon Kohler were intercepting passes, winning the ball and sending it back to the attack.
Alex Perkins needed only two saves to earn another shutout for the Whalers this season as the defense kept the ball mainly out of the end.
Nantucket struck first on a goal by Bazilio in the first half off a feed from Lendway in the backfield. The junior striker tacked on two more goals in a five-minute span midway through the second half to open up the game. The first goal came on a direct kick and the second was assisted by Bender.
Gordon added the final goal of the game 10 minutes later on an assist from Lorne Paterson out of the backfield.
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