RallyNorth.net

Wed, Sep 19, 2007 03:45 PM @ Masconomet

Team	Final
Hamilton-Wenham	0
Masconomet	3

VanLenten sparks Masco past Hamilton-Wenham

Thursday, September, 20 By Jean DePlacido
Correspondent

BOXFORD | The Masconomet boys' soccer team has taken on some tough teams in the early going | yet is still unbeaten. Yesterday afternoon, behind a pair of goals from senior captain Kevin VanLenten, the Chieftains methodically handled visiting Hamilton-Wenham, 3-0, in their first Cape Ann League contest of the season.

Masco (4-0-1) used its speed up front and at the midfield to dominate play from the start. In addition to VanLenten's two scores, fellow captain Ian Gelinas contributed two assists. "VanLenten had a great game today. He and Ian dominated," said long-time Masconomet head coach Lenny Emmons. "They played almost the entire game except for one or two quick breathers. They are the core of this team and give it everything they've got all the time".

Junior midfielder Bradley McDonald put the Chieftains on the board in the 14th minute off a throw-in by Gelinas, who put the ball right in front of the net. McDonald found it in a crowd out front and tapped a low shot into the lower right corner.

Gelinas also set up the second goal in the 33rd minute with another perfectly placed throw that VanLenten headed into the back of the net past the dive of Generals' goalkeeper Jackson MacDonald.

Gelinas is aware that a well placed throw-in is a very effective weapon, and practices his throws constantly. "VanLenten is good winning the (ball) in the air," said the senior stopper. "I get it inside the box and just try to put the ball in front of the net. I'm confident somebody will be there to finish it off."

Emmons said his team's goal was to jump on the Generals early.

"One thing I haven't been able to do as much as I would like is get everybody into the game because we have played such a tough early schedule, but today I was able to give them all a chance to play."

Masco's starting keeper, Jon Doucette, wasn't very busy as the Chieftains played very well defensively. But eight minutes into the game he was called upon to make a great save on H-W's Jon Britton, who managed to get through the defense and drill a shot that was labeled. Doucette caught the ball and managed to hang on.

At the beginning of the second half the Generals, put some pressure on Stephen Perkins, who had replaced Doucette in net. An indirect kick by Britton sailed just over the top crossbar before VanLenten put the game out of reach with a great run down the left sideline, finishing with a perfectly placed shot into the upper corner to increase the cushion to 3-0.

"Hamilton-Wenham was very scrappy," said Emmons. "They came out fast at the start of the second half, but good teams have players that turn the tide. VanLenten is one of those players."

Masco's speed was too much for the Generals, who struggled to mount an attack. The Chieftains won the majority of loose balls all over the field and three goalies | Doucette, Perkins and Ian Bettencourt | shared in the shutout.

"We played well today (and) stuck to our game plan," said VanLenten. We practice that throw-in play from Gelinas all the time, and I know just where he is going to put the ball. I knocked the first one in with my head, and just used my speed to create the scoring opportunity on my second goal."

H-W dropped to 1-2-1 with the loss. Coach Matt Gauron credited Gelinas with helping to break the game open.

"Masco was a little faster, a little more skilled," said Gauron. "We were pressuring early in the second half, but they made one run and scored on a great shot (by VanLenten) that slipped by the near post. That took the wind out of our sails, but we kept fighting and battling all the way."

He singled out midfielders Shawn Tucker and Britton for their fine play for H-W.