Brockton rolls into semifinals

After a dominant run to a state championship last season, Brockton ’s title defense hasn’t gone completely smoothly.

The Boxers went through an up-and-down, injury-filled regular season, but finally healthy, Brockton is clicking on all cylinders at the most opportune time.

Leonardo Teixeira scored a pair of first-half goals and a stellar defensive effort propelled No. 11 Brockton past No. 3 Mansfield, 3-0, in a Division 1 South quarterfinal last night.

“We played some really tough teams (in the regular season) that got us prepared,” said Brockton coach Herminio Furtado as the Boxers advance to tomorrow’s sectional semifinal against BC High. “The seeding was not good for us, so we know we have to do this on the road. Defense has been huge for us. Last year we scored a lot of goals. This year we know that defense will have to do the job.”

Brockton (11-6-3) opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Luis Spinola sent a free-kick into the box where Teixeira settled it before shooting near-post for a goal.

Teixeira dipped into his bag of tricks for his second tally in the 33rd minute. Vanilton Xavier beat his defender down the left wing before feeding Teixeira, who played the ball up to himself before heading it in to go up, 2-0.

“He’s a big player and big players are for big moments and he’s showing that,” Furtado said. “He’s our goal-scorer. He’s our leader. He gives us a lot of confidence.”

Mansfield (13-3-5) fell into an even bigger hole after a 30-minute lightning delay at the beginning of the second half when Joel Arsenault fed Edson Lopes and Lopes slid a shot past a charging keeper for a 3-0 lead in the 60th minute.

Mansfield mustered just two shots on net, getting its best scoring chance when Luke Savoie’s bid hit off the post, but Brockton secured its second shutout in as many tournament games.

Anthony Lovati provided the lone goal for No. 1 Nauset (20-0) as the Warriors blanked No. 8 Hopkinton, 1-0, in a Div. 2 South quarterfinal.

Josh Rubin had a goal and three assists to lead No. 2 Masconomet (17-2-2) to a 4-1 win over seventh-seeded Winchester in a Div. 2 North quarterfinal. … Nic Santos led a balanced attack with a pair of goals as No. 3 Concord-Carlisle (14-2-3) rolled to a 7-0 win over No. 6 Latin Academy.

Lukas Drahos scored both goals as top-seeded Mystic Valley (16-2-1) defeated eighth-seeded Lynn Tech in a Div. 4 North quarterfinal.

Girls soccer

Kayla Demers and Katie O’Neill scored two goals apiece to lead No. 10 St. Mary’s (13-6-1) to a 7-0 victory over second-seeded Tech Boston in a Div. 4 North quarterfinal. … Chelsea Lynch scored twice and Emma DiPietro added the other goal in the second half as No. 6 Amesbury (133-4) defeated third-seeded Essex Tech, 3-0.

Volleyball

Nyah Young had 31 assists and teammate Rachel Davidson added 11 kills to lead No. 9 Case (15-7) to a 3-0 win over topseeded Sacred Heart in a Div. 3 South quarterfinal.

Mari Ball posted 20 digs to help top-seeded Arlington Catholic (21-1) take down No. 9 Bishop Fenwick, 3-0, in a Div. 2 North quarterfinal. ... Emma Randolph racked up 20 kills as No. 11 Melrose (15-7) swept No. 19 Wayland, 3-0.

Football

Central Catholic coach Chuck Adamopoulos was named the Patriots High School Coach of the Week following his team’s 23-20 upset win over Everett ina sectional semifinal last Friday.

All-Scholastic lineman Mike Ciaffoni of LincolnSudbury gave a verbal commitment to attend UMass in the fall. The 6-foot-3, 270-pounder has helped lead the Warriors to an 8-1 record and a berth in a Div. 2 North final Friday at North Andover.