RallyNorth.net

Wed, Sep 12, 2007 03:45 PM @ Newburyport

Team	Final
Pentucket	2
Newburyport	0

Soccer rivalry takes on new life in ALS Cup

Wednesday, September, 12 By Dan Guttenplan
Sports editor

NEWBURYPORT | If ever there was a question regarding the intensity of the Newburyport-Pentucket soccer rivalry, it was answered in the closing minutes of last night's sixth annual ALS Cup.

Few in attendance had to check the scoreboard to confirm Pentucket's 2-0 victory in the boys' nightcap. As the referees sounded the final whistle, the Pentucket bench emptied thanks to a herd of sprinting players destined for the celebratory pile of athletes at midfield.

Newburyport's bench, on the other hand, was spilling over with emotion. Clippers coach Dave Greenblott stood nose-to-nose with a referee whom had just dealt the sixth-year coach his first-ever red card, and the Newburyport players remained motionless on the field.

No player had more to celebrate than Pentucket striker Brian Clevesy, who netted both goals and drew the misfortune of having another shot get rejected by the top cross bar. "It's the biggest game of the season," Clevesy said. "To score two goals, it makes me feel great. But it wouldn't have happened if we didn't play like a team."

Clevesy put the Sachems on the board in the 50th minute when he deposited a penalty kick in the lower right portion of the net. Fellow striker Jake Buzzell earned the PK after he was tripped in the offensive box.

From that point until the closing moments, Newburyport controlled play with much of the action taking place in Pentucket's defensive zone. Clippers striker Tom Svirsky had several scoring bids | perhaps none more promising than a free kick that came with 12 minutes remaining. Sachems keeper Joe Casey struggled to handle the low line drive and needed the help of the left crossbar to preserve the shutout. Svirsky shot bounced from Casey's hands into the post and back into Casey's hands.

Pentucket erased any hope of an ALS Cup tie when a crashing Clevesy netted a crossing pass from 15 yards outside the net.

Pentucket retains the ALS Cup for the first time in the event's six-year history. The schools have now each won three Cups.

"It's become such a big rivalry," Pentucket coach Chris Langlois said. "Pentucket-Newburyport is already a big game. To win like this, it's like winning the state tournament for my guys."