Sports
Boys Soccer Falls for the First Time This Year
Hamilton-Wenham Regional's boys soccer team lost 2-1 to the defending Cape Ann League champion North Andover on Tuesday but are one win away from clinching a playoff birth.
The boys soccer Generals were thinking upset Tuesday afternoon when they went up 1-0 in the second minute of their game at North Andover, but the Knights came back to steal the victory by a 2-1 score, ending the Generals' unbeaten streak.
The Knights, Cape Ann League champions in 2009, moved to 8-2-1 with the comeback win and are now one point away from qualifying for the post-season tournament. The Generals (6-1-3) are also a point away from clinching a spot in the tournament.
"We played a very good team today. They're very good at home, and we haven't beaten them here in a long time," said Generals Head Coach Matt Gauron. "I'm proud of our effort. We came out with good intensity and good energy."
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Gauron said all three goals scored on the day were because of defensive miscues. The difference was the Knights' finishing.
"It's tough to beat Luke [Besse]," Gauron said of his keeper, who has a 0.5 goals against average, letting in five goals through 10 games. "They put it in tough spots, they finished their chances."
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The Knights appeared a little shell-shocked after the Generals scored early.
The Generals exploited a mistake by Knights goalkeeper Chris Grimble in the second minute, when a direct kick from 45 yards by Generals captain Matt Herrick bounced off the keeper's hands in the direction of Tyler Bissone.
Bissone banged it into the net for the 1-0 lead.
The Generals held the lead until the 33rd minute, when the Knights exploited a mistake by the Generals defense, when a weak clear turned the ball over to the Knights.
North Andover sophomore forward Evan Dudney scored on a quick strike, after he took possession on the right side and dribbled alone on goal, firing a shot past the diving Besse.
In the second half, the two teams played back and forth as the game opened up, but North Andover created a few more chances than Hamilton-Wenham.
Knights captain Evan Boudreau, a senior midfielder, made it 2-1 in the 48th minute, scoring on a through-ball from senior midfielder Sean Erb.
"I know Hamilon-Wenham always gives us a good battle," North Andover head Coach Bill Tarbox said. "They have a lot of skilled players, play a good defensive game, and have a good goalkeeper."
