RallyNorth.net

Wed, Nov 07, 2007 06:00 PM @ Masconomet

Team	1st	2nd	Final
Playoff Game
Stoneham	1	1	2
Masconomet	2	3	5

Chieftains stay composed, advance to semis

Thursday, November, 08 By Matt Williams
Staff writer

A strong, physical Stoneham team pushed the Masconomet Regional boys soccer squad in last night's Division 2 North quarterfinal matchup. Then, they pushed some more with a relentless rough-and-tumble style that would leave most teams flustered.

Not the Chieftains, however. They kept their cool and used a devastating counter-attack to emerge with a 5-2 victory under the lights at Roberts Field.

Fourth-seeded Masconomet (16-1-4) advances to face unbeaten Concord-Carlisle | the team that eliminated them a year ago | in the North semifinals (time and site TBA).

"No mater what the circumstance, we kept playing soccer," said veteran Masco coach Lenny Emmons. "We stayed very calm in the second half. No matter much they pushed us around, we didn't retaliate."

Clinging to a 3-2 lead midway through the second half, Stoneham looked to be surging and peppered the Masco net with shots.

Senior Ali Olia turned the tide with 14 minutes left with a goal that exhibited the patience the Chieftains showed all night. Dribbling in front the Spartan net, he held the ball until the last second before putting it past the Stoneham goaltender.

The Chieftains added another insurance goal minutes later with a wide-open Bradley McDonald finding the net.

"We knew if we kept it on the ground we would win the ball game and ultimately, that's what happened," said Emmons. "We really took it to them in the last 10 minutes."

Chieftains' co-captain Tyler Bodengraven was all over the field. Shaking off a groin pull and sprained wrist, he helped spark a Chieftain defense that blocked six shots, had an assist on the final goal, and put a perfectly placed free kick into the top corner of the net to spot Masco a 3-1 edge early in the second half.

"I saw it, I wanted it, I took it and it hit top shelf. It felt great," said Bodengraven.

"He's the spark for the flame," Emmons said of his senior mid. "He's a wonderful player and he hasn't had the chance to show it all season (due to the injuries). It's really coming around for him."

Masco stormed to an early 2-0 lead with a pair of goals in the first 10 minutes. Senior co-captain Kevin VanLenten headed home a free kick in the seventh minute and senior Kevin Baranello finished a crossing pass 55 seconds later. "We came out flying and that really put them down," said Bodengraven.

The Spartans cracked Masco keeper Jon Doucette, who had 13 saves, with two minutes left before halftime. Coupled with a 61st minute tally that made it 3-2 and constant physical play, Stoneham put the pressure on. But each time the Chieftains' level headed counter-attack had the answer that put them in the semi-finals with an eye on revenge on Concord-Carlisle and a state title.

"The game could've gotten out of hand if we'd retaliated, but that really isn't out style," Emmons said. "I told the boys that this was just another team we have to beat along the way."