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LYNN — As members of North Andover High boys soccer huddled and consoled one another yesterday after the Division 2 North championship, you have to wonder if senior Mike Skarbelis leaves the team as the greatest player in program history.

Skarbelis scored the 1-1 equalizer 59 seconds into the second half, but Masconomet’s Kevin Gilbert fired in a free kick from a remarkable 52 yards out to lead Masco 2-1 over North Andover at Manning Field, handing the No. 1-seed Knights their first loss of the season.

LYNN — We can pretty much guarantee that North Andover High senior captain Jeff Warden’s surprising 40-yard blast from the right side, that went over the outstretched arms of the Concord-Carlisle goalkeeper with only 15 minutes left in the game, was the biggest goal of his high school career. And it wasn’t simply the fact that it lifted the undefeated Knights past its state tourney rival, 1-0, and into the Div. 2 North final tomorrow is one thing. It was also the first goal of the All-Conference (and probably All-State) defender’s exemplary career. “It’s funny. I usually stay back on corner kicks,” said Warden. “Coach (Kyle Wood) was yelling, ‘Step up! Step up!’ So I did and the ball came right to me. I hit it has hard as I could, kept my head down, and when I looked up the ball was in the back of the net.” This goal by Warden, as unexpected as it was, had been in the works for a few months, if not years. “We’ve been talking about Jeff scoring a goal all season,” said Knights coach Kyle Wood. “When there is space in front of him, we want him to come up and play the ball. On that play, it’s exactly what happened.” The game was exactly as expected — tough. Last year, North Andover beat C-C, 3-1, in the Div. 2 North Finals.  Concord-Carlisle, which hadn’t lost a game since its season opener against Cambridge Rindge & Latin (1-0), seemed to have an edge, as expected, with skill. The top-seeded Knights are noted for one of the stingiest defenses in the state, with Warden usually in the back. “We’ve beaten them now twice, but before that we’ve had problems with them in the state tournament,” said Wood. “It is one of the well-coached, well-disciplined programs we play. They have tons of skill.” Amazingly, Concord-Carlisle, only had two great scoring opportunities, one with only 17 minutes left in the first half, but the strike went wide by a foot as Knights goalkeeper Marc Patnaude just missed the ball. On C-C’s other close call, Marc Patnaude barely steered the ball away, thanks to a dive. Which brings us back to North Andover’s four-man defensive unit — all seniors. Mike Canale came out of nowhere from behind to kick away what seemed to be a breakaway with 14 minutes remaining. Conor Lacy, one of the fastest players on the field, was his usual solid self. And Todd Patnaude was, according to Wood, one of the best players on the field. “Our defense is as good as it gets,” said Wood. “The thing is we were playing a flat formation (four across), but they were killing it in the first half. We changed up to a triangle, with Todd at front of it. He was great. They all were great.” North Andover’s top offensive performer all year, Mike Skarbelis, was marked closely by C-C’s 6-foot-2 defensive star, Julien Feshbach-Meriney, for most of the game. But for one game, it didn’t matter, thanks to Warden. “Defense will always be my game,” smiled Warden. “I got my one goal. That’s enough for me.” North Andover now goes against its biggest rival in soccer the last three decades, Masconomet Regional, back here in Lynn tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. The programs haven’t met since North Andover left the Cape Ann League last year. “They are a great team,” said Coach Wood. “It’s never easy this time of year.”

For the first time in his school career, Mike Skarbelis scored four goals in one game. His unbelievable effort led North Andover boys soccer 4-0 over Whittier in the first round of the Division 2 North tournament. 

North Andover, which has a rich boys soccer tradition, completed its first perfect 18-0 regular season, blanking Salem 5-0 as Michael Skarbelis had a hat trick, padding his school record goal total with his 36th goal of the season. Derek Zahoruiko had two goals and Andrew Valdes had three assists for the Knights.

Mike Skarbelis scored his 26th and 27th goals this season to lead undefeated North Andover boys soccer 2-1 over Lowell.

Derek Zahoruiko, Andrew Valdes, Sina Samali and Mike Skarbelis scored and Jeff Warden anchored the defense as North Andover downed Dracut, 4-1, to improve to 12-0.

Mike Skarbelis notched another hat trick and North Andover cruised past Methuen 6-0.

Andrew Valdes returned in a big way after missing eight games with a knee injury to score two goals as unbeaten North Andover (10-0) clipped Central Catholic 5-1. Mike Skarabelis had a goal and two assists. 

The North Andover boys soccer team continued its hot streak, beating Billerica 4-1. Michael Skarbelis had two goals and an assist, and Marc Patnaude turned aside eight Indian shots.