Outshot Littleton wins 1-0 over N. Middlesex
North Middlesex falls to Littleton despite 16-5 advantage in shots
TOWNSEND – It’s been said many times before: it’s not how you start, but how you finish.
And for all its possession, shot attempts and a ridiculously fast start, the North Middlesex Regional boys soccer team just couldn’t finish on Thursday afternoon.
Instead, it was visiting Littleton that took advantage of one of its few scoring chances to leave 1A Auto Field with a 1- 0 victory in its possession.
Junior Kyle Gassiraro poked home a deflected ball with 9:02 left in the third quarter and the Tigers fended off several North Middlesex surges down the stretch to improve to 2- 0 on the season.
“It was a little choppy and a little unorganized, but it’s a funky season with weird rules,” Littleton head coach Todd Turcotte said. “It’s hard for the guys, but we finished when he had to. Kyle did a great job getting that in the back of the net.”
North Middlesex (1-1) outshot the visitors 16-5 and held a 5- 0 edge in corner kicks. Despite myriad scoring chances, the Patriots were unable to break through. Littelton goalkeeper Aiden Leduc finished the contest with 11 saves, keeping the hosts at bay.
“One of our focuses is to dominate possession. We held a huge edge in shots. It happens sometimes; you
and past Leduc. Evan McPherson rang a shot off the crossbar with 13:30 remaining and Evan Gaibor’s free kick bid from 25 yards out with 8:40 left sailed just high and wide of finding the top left corlose games when you play really well,” ner of the net.
North Middlesex head coach Jeff Wal“There’s a lot of good leadership on dron lamented. “That’s sports. We had a this team and we played pretty well tolot of positives today, but couldn’t get the day,” Waldron said. win.” “If we stick to the plan, there’s a lot of
The game was scoreless until Gassiraupside. The goals just weren’t there toro found the ball at his feet on a redirectday.” ed cross. He stayed composed and slotNorth Middlesex nearly broke ted home a shot for what proved to be through in the second quarter courtesy the game-winner midway through the of a give-and-go between Jake Richard third. and Max Patenaude, but the return pass
“The ball came across the top of the to Richard found him offside as he box and I think the keeper got a hand on slammed the ball into the back of the it, but of course it’s chaos when the ball net. is in there,” Turcotte said. “It wentG oalkeeper Eliot Pannaccione made through and Kyle was in the right spot at four saves for the Patriots. the right time. He made a great play.”
The Patriots had chances in the final quarter, but couldn’t get a shot on frame