Generals in Command, Seal Trip to Soccer Quarterfinals on Monday

The 11th-seeded boys’ soccer team's win on Saturday puts the team through to the Div. 3 sectional quarterfinals for the first time since winning the North Sectionals in 2008.

The Generals relied on solid defense and an opportunistic attack to secure a 4-1 win over No. 6 Dorchester High/Tech Boston Academy at on Saturday. The Generals will now face third-seeded St. Mary’s of Lynn in a North Sectional quarterfinal at Lynn’s Manning Stadium on Monday at 7 p.m.

St. Mary's advanced after a 2-1 win over No. 14 North Reading on Saturday.

“I thought we played our best defense of the year,” said Hamilton-Wenham (9-6-2) head coach Matt Gauron following the win. “We’ve given up a few more goals than I would have liked to as the season has gone on, but we’ve worked hard on playing a little tighter, a little more organized, and it looked like we did that today.”

For much of the match play was closer than indicated by the somewhat lopsided final scoreline, and an early own goal against Bears (9-8-2) netminder Jamina Kallon was all that separated the two sides after 65 minutes of tense play.

“It looked like the (Dorchester) goalie made a play on the ball,” said Gauron. “He caught it, and when he came down, he turned around, so the ball was actually over the line ... I didn’t have a good line on it, but the official had a pretty good vantage point.”

The second half would prove to be a different animal, as the Generals came out of the break a little quicker and more composed on the attack. The result was an increased number of scoring chances, and an opponent who spent the lion’s share of the afternoon reacting and on the back foot.

“We didn’t really change anything,” Gauron said of the improved offensive play in the second half. “We were up 1-0, and I felt like we were playing well, but, for some reason, when the second half started, there seemed to be a bit more open space ... I feel like we’re a pretty good passing team, and there was a little more room for us to exploit out there.”

Exploit it they did.

Hamilton-Wenham put a little distance between themselves and Dorchester/Tech Boston at the 65:16 mark, when senior Charlie Serpa got himself onto the end of a nifty aerial cross and deftly redirected the ball into the lower right corner of the Bears’ goal, giving the Generals a 2-0 advantage — it would prove to be the game-winner.

Winger junior Andrew Kang, who had a great game, continuously penetrating deeply along the Dorchester flank, netted an insurance goal in the 75th minute, depositing past Kallon after a nice crossing ball from senior midfielder Max Montanari, putting Hamilton-Wenham in front 3-0. 

The Bears were essentially beaten at this point. Though they remained dangerous and persistent on the attack, it was clear from their collective body language that the game—and their season—were both running on borrowed time.

Dorchester would peg one back at the 75:57 mark, when senior defender Montfort Bembeleeza loosed a wicked volley from the top of the 18-yard box that got the best of Generals’ senior netminder Luke Besse, narrowing the divide to 3-1.

Hamilton-Wenham, however, had no intention of relinquishing control of the contest. Montanari unleashed a powerful effort towards goal in the 77th minute, which was redirected past Kallon by senior striker Erik Blakney, giving the Generals their final 4-1 margin of victory.

With a date for the next round booked, and a trip to the quarterfinals — the first one since 2008 — safely in hand, Gauron will look to build upon the defensive success against Dorchester in order to try and advance to the semis.

When asked about the similarities between his 2008 squad and this year’s edition, Gauron understandably shied away from any comparison, but was quick to point out that he knows this team is capable of recreating the feat accomplished by the 2008 team, and, possibly, outdoing it altogether.

“I feel like this team can do it,” he said. “There are some real tough teams out there, but this team is definitely capable (of winning the sectionals) if we keep playing like we did today.

“The defensive scheme was good today. If we can do that going forward, I feel like we have a good chance at beating anybody.”