Big ‘W’ for Wellesley
Raiders rebound for title
After beginning the season 2-3-2, the outlook looked bleak for Wellesley.
But the Raiders haven’t lost since, shrugging off the slow start and surviving the early rounds of the postseason before making history yesterday.
BOYS SOCCER
Fifth-seeded Wellesley won its 12th straight contest with Oskar Haeberlein netting the game-winner in the 65th minute, as the Raiders topped No. 10 BC High ,2-1,at Hingham High to bring home the program’s first Division 1 South title.
“Historically we always start slow,” Wellesley coach Tim Mason said as the Raiders advance to tomorrow’s state semifinal against Lincoln-Sudbury. “We changed formation and since then it’s just been a roller coaster. Momentum’s huge. It means a lot. (That) 2-3-2 (start) seems a long way ago now.”
BC High (12-7-3) struck first on a header from Luke Reid in the 45th minute, but that lit a fire under Wellesley (14-3-2). Christopher Kolb capitalized off an Eagles miscue to score the equalizer less than four minutes later.
Then with 15:46 left, Haeberlein put Wellesley in front for good. He dished off a terrific feed to PJ Genta in the attacking third and Haeberlein continued toward goal as Genta passed back to Haeberlein, who deposited his shot into an open net.
“It was the best feeling ever,” Haeberlein said. “I knew I would get it back. It’s not the first time he’s given it back to me for a goal this season.”
Division 2
After falling in penalty kicks in the Division 2 North final to Concord-Carlisle a season ago, Arlington was rewarded with a sectional crown at Manning
Field in Lynn.
Junior Sean Connelly contributed on both tallies as fourth-seeded Arlington blanked No. 2 Masconomet,
2-0.
“Sean is an Eastern Mass All-Star,” Spy Ponders coach Lance Yodzio said. “He’s another smart player. He’s very calm on the ball and shoots very quickly. He gets it done.”
Connelly assisted a perfect cross right in front of the net as senior Lucas Plotkin’s header hit the back of the net to make it 1-0 Arlington (163-3) in the 56th minute.
The junior added a score of his own in the 73rd minute as he finished off a pass off a corner to make it 2-0, less than a minute after a diving save for senior Henry Fox Jurkowitz to keep Masconomet (18-3-2) off the board.
Undefeated Nauset had not been challenged much of the postseason. But it faced its toughest test yet as No. 11 Walpole pushed the Warriors to the brink in the Div. 2 South final.
With 66 minutes of scoreless soccer in the books, the game looked destined for extra time. That is when Nauset struck, scoring twice in the final 14 minutes before staving off a late Rebels rally to advance to the state final with a 2-1 victory at Canton High.
“Nobody has (anything) to lose, especially Walpole,” Nauset coach John McCully said. “If anything, the pressure is on us trying to stay undefeated. They are certainly battle-tested because of their league. We knew that.”
Nauset finally broke through following a corner in the 66th minute as Curtis Moore drew the attention of Walpole goalkeeper Dennis Crowley before centering in front to sophomore Anthony Lovati, who cashed in with the keeper out of place.
Ten minutes later, Shavar Champagnie fired a rocket to the top of the net on a one-on-one with the keeper, providing the Warriors the 2-0 lead. It proved vital when John Brady halved the deficit moments later, footing a loose ball to the back of the target. Nauset evaded the final push from Walpole in the closing minutes to move its quest for a perfect-season into the Div. 2 state final.
Division 4
After starting off 2-4, even with Cohasset’s recent history, some believed the Skippers may be in for a long year.
Not only did the Skippers prove the doubters wrong throughout the remainder of the regular season, they proved they truly could hang with the top competition during their recent playoff streak. As he has all season, senior captain Michael McDougald emerged as the hero, netting a goal as No. 5 Cohasset rallied to its third straight Div. 4 South title with a thrilling 2-1 victory over No. 6 Carver at Holbrook High.
In a battle between two South Shore League rivals who split their season series, most expected this one to be a nail-biter, and it delivered.
Things did not start off to well for the Skippers (164-2), as Carver sophomore Michael Sawicki curled in a shot from about 12 yards to open the scoring.
“We had a big talk in the second half,” McDougald said. “Our coach told us to get more shots, get it out wide, and get crosses in. Because we weren’t getting any chances in the first half. We came out in the second half, did just that and got two quick goals, held the lead.”
Just moments after the intermission, McDougald struck, slipping one past the reach of Carver goalkeeper Ben Vitale to knot the score at 1-1.
Almost exactly 10 minutes later, a rogue pass ricocheted off a Crusader before finding its place in the back of Carver’s net for an own goal, putting the Skippers in front for good in the 52nd minute. Kyle Prudhomme, Brian Roach and Brendan Connelly contributed to this report.