By Allison Goldsmith
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Photo by Jim Powers
Nantucket's Harrison O'Rourke controls the ball against Provincetown on Monday. The Whalers defeated the Lighthouse Conference foe 7-0 for their third strait shutout.
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I&M Staff Writer
The boys varsity soccer team steamrolled the competition this week, posting three straight shutouts: 3-0 over Scituate and Chatham, and a 7-0 demolition of Lighthouse League foe Provincetown.
The Whalers are 7-0-1 over their last eight games and 8-2-1 overall this season. With the victory over Provincetown on Monday, Nantucket is 4-0 in the Lighthouse League, and has out-scored its opponents 25-2 in the last four games.
Seven games remain on the schedule for the Whalers, who are aiming to break the regular season record of 10 wins they matched last year. The full-season win total (counting the playoffs) of 12 games is also within reach, head coach Rich Brannigan said.
“We are on a little bit of a streak and we are playing decent soccer. It is not tournament-level soccer yet, but it is good to have a little momentum,” Brannigan said, noting that the schedule does not get any easier for the Whalers, who are scheduled to face Norwood in a double-header this Friday and Saturday.
Chatham and Provincetown this week threw a different look at the Whalers, playing 11 players back on defense.
“It seems to frustrate our guys, but it is a sign of respect, too. We have never had teams do this to us,” Brannigan said.
Despite any frustration the Whalers’ playmakers might have felt, they were able to find a way to score in each game to earn the victories.
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Photo by Jim Powers
Caleb Mitchell in the first half of Monday's game against Provincetown.
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Against Provincetown on Monday, the Fishermen kept all players on defense in order to stifle the Whalers’ attack.
“It is not exciting soccer. It just takes a while to break them down. Their goalie was quick off the line,” Brannigan said.
The Whalers made an adjustment during a time-out in the first half to put the ball over the goalie’s head rather than on the ground from close range. The Whalers took a 2-0 lead into the half before exploding for five more goals.
Caio Correa and Philipe Bazilio each scored twice for Nantucket, while Martin Manov, Harrison O’Rourke and Beau Garufi scored one goal a piece. Caleb Mitchell had four assists from midfield, while Yuve Montenegro, Sebastian McFarlane and Correa each added one assist.
It was nearly 30 minutes into the game before Manov scored the first goal, assisted by Mitchell. Montenegro then connected with Correa, who headed a shot into the back of the net just before the half to put the Whalers up 2-0. Early in the second half, Bazilio scored back-to-back goals to break the game open.
On Saturday at home the Whalers faced-off against a Chatham team they defeated 6-1 earlier in the season on the road. The Blue Devils took a different approach the second time around, playing back on defense for the majority of the game, looking to prevent the Whalers from scoring while working for the break-away goal. Their strategy worked for much of the first half. With 10 seconds remaining in the half, Correa sent a crossing pass across the mouth of the goal. Montenegro connected with the ball and knocked it in for the 1-0 advantage.
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Photo by Jim Powers
Caio Correa in the first half of the Whaler's game against Provincetown Monday, Oct. 2. |
“It was the same game plan (as Provincetown). We felt good scoring right before the half. I think Chatham would have felt vindicated if we went into the half 0-0. It would have reinforced their game plan. Scoring was a blow to them and a little wind fell out of their sails,” Brannigan said.
In the second half the Whalers put a number of shots on goal and picked up two more scores. Manov scored on an assist by Correa and then Correa scored a goal of his own assisted by Montenegro.
“It was good to see goals by three different guys,” Brannigan said.
On the road against Scituate on Friday, the Whalers faced their toughest competition of the week. Despite pressure from the Sailors’ attack, the Whalers posted two goals on the scoreboard by half-time. Correa scored twice
for Nantucket, the first assisted by Henry Farrell.
“We changed our tactics a bit at the half. We felt comfortable with a 2-0 lead and added a fifth defender. The guys fell into their positions and we were able to shut them down,” Brannigan said.
Devon Kohler joined Toby Glidden as a double-stopper for depth in the backfield. Russell Bartlett was strong again in net for the Whalers, handling 15 shots on goal off the fast, turf surface.
“He had to be quick off the line and the defense had to be fast in decision-making,” Brannigan said.
Glidden added the third goal in the second half to put the game out of reach for the Whalers.
Reach Allison Goldsmith at sports@inkym.com
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