BI earns 1st-ever title shot

STATE BOYS SOCCER

LYNN — For the second straight year, Boston International and Cohasset found themselves vying for a spot in the Division 4 boys soccer state final. This time around, the Lions were hopeful this would be their year to reach the state final.

Thanks to stellar work by goalkeeper Helder VazDepina, it was in fact Boston International’s year. Vaz-Depina made 11 saves to help the Lions to a 1-0 shutout of the Skippers at Manning Field.

“It took a lot more than physical skills today,” Boston International coach Apolinario Barros said. “They had to work on their mental game as well.”

Mental toughness was needed after Cohasset used a good short passing game to dominate offensive possession in the first half. The Lions (17-2-2) were playing with a short bench, and Barros made some adjustments during halftime to generate more opportunities on the other end of the field.

After the Skippers (202-1) opened the second half with three excellent chances, Jesus Batiz sent a kick sailing into the net to put Boston International ahead in the 58th minute.

As Cohasset did all it could to even the score late, Vaz-Depina continued his solid game, making three more saves as time down.

“I’m proud of my teammates,” Vaz-Depina said. “I was in the moment.”

For the Lions’ firstever state championship game appearance, the opposition on Saturday will come from Bromfield, which beat Lenox, 1-0, in the semifinal round.

Division 3

Norwell 2, Watertown 0 — A pair of early goals from Matt Cawthorne and Troy Studley to go with seven saves from goalkeeper Cal Stoddard proved to be enough as the Clippers (192-2) shut out the Raiders (15-7-1) at Manning Field.

With the win, Norwell advances to the state championship game for the first time in program history.

“We have never gone beyond this point,” Clippers coach Jack Browne said. “I am just thrilled for the kids. I told our kids pregame that if you win this one you’ll go farther than anyone in history and they were quick to remind me of that postgame.”

Through five postseason games, Norwell has allowed just one goal.

The lone score needed on this night came in the second minute. Cawthorne put in a header off a corner kick from Josh Toomey for the 1-0 lead.

Norwell broke through again after withstanding some Watertown pressure. Studley shot one home on a free kick from 40 yards out to close out the scoring long before halftime.

The Raiders had a pair of golden scoring chances early in the second half. In the 52nd minute, Jose Luis Mendoza drilled a solid strike from 35 yards out but Stoddard swatted the bid away with his left hand. Four minutes later, Samuel Deossa got an open look from 15 yards, but his shot deflected off the crossbar and out of play.

The Clippers’ opponent in Saturday’s state final will be Nipmuc, a 2-1 winner against Southwick in the other semifinal.