By Allison Goldsmith
I&M Sports Editor
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Photo by Jim Powers
Nantucket freshman Caio Correa rips a shot on goal between two Chatham defenders in the first half of last Friday’s home opener. The ball found its way past the keeper to tie the game before the half. The Whalers went on to win the match 2-1 on a goal from Bryan Tarcitano in the second half. |
After dropping the season opener to Bourne last week by one goal, the boys soccer team tore into their schedule with three straight wins this week.
The Whalers defeated perennial playoff contender Chatham 2-1 in the home opener on Friday and Mashpee 3-1 on Saturday, also at home. The squad traveled to Sturgis on Tuesday and dominated in the 7-0 Lighthouse Conference victory.
Nantucket is currently 3-1 overall (1-0 in the conference) and is scheduled to play Matignon at home on Saturday. The Whalers will continue Lighthouse Conference play against Provincetown Tuesday, also at home.
The strong start is something the boys soccer team hasn’t put together in a number of seasons.
“After Saturday, they put themselves in more of a driver’s seat than years past. Getting above .500 three games into the season is a huge advantage for our team,” head coach Rich Brannigan said. “To beat two strong non-league opponents and play very well with another non-league opponent gives the guys a lot of confidence.”
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Photo by Jim Powers
Beau Garufi keeps his eye on the ball against Chatham keeper Evan Williamson. The Whalers defeated the Blue Devils 2-1 in their home opener last Friday. |
Against league rival Sturgis on Tuesday, the Whalers did not play a very pretty game, Brannigan said, but still managed the positive result.
“The second half was much better than the first. We looked to create a pretty game and that happened more in the second half. The first half was more kick and run, but we sorted that out at halftime,” Brannigan said.
Caio Correa scored three goals in the first half and Martin Manov added one goal for the 4-0 lead at the break. In the second half Caleb Mitchell, Jasper Young and Henry Farrell each scored. Goalie Russell Bartlett needed only two saves to record the shutout.
On the back end of back-to-back home games last week, the Whalers showed some fatigue against Mashpee, Brannigan said. Nantucket took the 2-0 lead at halftime, but allowed the Falcons to claw back within striking distance.
“In the second half we seemed really sleepy. They weren’t dangerously
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Photo by Jim Powers
Nantucket's Martin Manov, left and Beau Garufi battle for the ball in the second half of Friday's game against Chatham. |
attacking, but we were way out of position. They were getting more chances. Having that cushion goal for the last 10 minutes made it a lot smoother,” Brannigan said.
Correa scored the first goal in the 21st minute of the game assisted by Noah Keller, and nine minutes later Bryan Tarcitano added the second goal of the game assisted by Correa. After playing to a stalemate for much of the second half, Mashpee finally broke through for its first goal of the game 34 minutes in. Eight minutes later, Keller put the game out of reach with a goal assisted by Tarcitano. Bartlett made eight saves in goal for the Whalers.
The game against Mashpee came less than 24 hours after a big win against Chatham, the Blue Devils’ first regular season loss in more than a season. The Blue Devils were 20-0 last year and according to Brannigan had a win streak stretching back to the previous season.
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Photo by Jim Powers
Nantucket's Caio Correa, left and Bryan Tarcitano in the second half. |
Chatham had the early momentum and took the lead approximately 10 minutes into the first half. After a shot on goal, Jeremy Tansey was in position to get a foot on the rebound off Bartlett for the 1-0 Blue Devil lead.
Midway through the first half Nantucket started creating some chances on offense, working the ball up front between Correa, Tarcitano and Keller.
“We settled down. I think we marked up a little better. It just took us a little while to get into the game. They are a big team and strong and I think it took us a while to get up to speed where we wanted to be with those guys,” Brannigan said.
With time winding down in the half, Keller sent the feed to Correa, who dribbled the ball through four defenders on the left side of the box and knocked the shot past the goalie for the game-tying score. In the second half the Whalers continued to apply pressure on Blue Devils’ keeper Evan Williamson. Approximately 13 minutes into the second half, Tarcitano gave Nantucket the 2-1 edge with a left-footed shot from the middle.
Bartlett received a solid game from his defensive line, needing only five saves for the win. Mitchell and Beau Garufi were instrumental in the midfield, Brannigan said.
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