Late Goal Eliminates Foxborough Boys' Soccer From Tournament Play

It’s unlikely the Foxborough boys’ soccer team have ever experienced the emotional ups and downs on display in their MIAA Division 3 South semi-final matchup against Norwell. In only a matter of minutes the Warriors went from the joy of an equalizer to the shock of an 80th minute goal, losing to the Clippers 3-2.

Norwell will play Martha’s Vineyard for the sectional title on Sunday.

While Foxboro’s season may be over, there was certainly no doubt of the progress made by this team. The attacking and offensive minded Warriors that tore up the Davenport Division looked nothing like last year’s eight-win team.

“We’ve had an excellent season. To have 15 wins compared to eight last season and seven the year before, we’ve done that in basically one season,” Foxboro head coach Pat Nash said.

The Warriors got the start they needed, scoring within 75 seconds of the start of the game. Joey Morrison’s header into the box found Devante Teixeira for a quick shot to the upper left corner to give Foxboro an early lead.

Foxboro continued to push the tempo for the opening 30 minutes, limiting Norwell’s possession and earning multiple chances in front of the net. The Clippers would respond by trying to get the through ball past the Foxboro backline to their forwards, something that was nearly successful in the 20th minute.

Connor Grant’s far post header off a Norwell corner in the 36th minute tied the game going into the half as the Clippers began to see momentum swing their way.

Norwell would take a 2-1 lead in the 59th minute when Harry Davis, making the most of a back heel pass, slipped the shot through the five-hole of Foxboro keeper Clay Leopold.

Eventually, Foxboro would adjust to Norwell’s offense, looking like a different team for the final 20 minutes. Morrison’s blast in the 72nd minute only found the woodwork but a free kick from the wide left found the Foxboro freshman on the opposite end of the box, waiting to blast in the tying goal in the 75th minute.

As extra time seemed all but certain, Norwell would go over the heads of Foxboro to lock up a win with only 20 seconds to play. A long ball to Connor Horan beat the Warriors defense, leaving the Norwell forward to chip the ball over Leopold to win a trip to the sectional finals.

“Their game plan was clear to hit up top. We let them through twice and we paid the price. When they’re playing direct it’s always important to have that backside covered and we didn’t take care of it,” Nash said.

Despite the defeat, the standard for boys’ soccer at Foxboro High School has been lifted. While the team will lose seniors Riley Fleck and Brian Bortolotti, the Warriors retain a strong junior class and a team where half the players are either freshmen or sophomores. With this in mind, coach Nash reminded his team of the new expectations now set for the 2015 season.

“Remember this for next year because we’re going to be back,” Nash told his team.