Headers Drop to 0-3 after Loss to Danvers

Despite an impressive performance by Marblehead keeper Doug Levine, Danvers High netted five goals en route to a shutout victory at Marblehead High School on Monday afternoon in a chippy contest that saw two yellow cards drawn.

Levine's number was called repeatedly in the first half, and he answered with numerous close-range saves, including two breakaway deflections. Senior Billy Graves also showed great defensive instincts, hustling from behind the play to end a breakaway bid midway through the first half.

After being turned away no fewer than six times despite controlling the early play, the Falcons put home their first goal on the day, scoring on a header deep in Marblehead territory.

Marblehead threatened with some offensive pressure around the 18-minute mark, with Rudy Mukania leading the charge on several attempts into the Falcon's zone.

With the halftime score standing at 1-0 in favor of Danvers, first-year Marblehead head coach Darren Benedick urged his players to be more aggressive for loose balls and headers, maintaining that MHS was not an inferior team, but simply not executing to the best of their abilities.

Marblehead opened the second half with an energized attack, narrowly missing on their best scoring attempt on a quality crossing pass behind the Danvers defense 10 minutes into the frame.

Five minutes later, it was Jon Amico with his second goal of the game on a defensive miscue, pushing the Danvers lead to 2-0. The goal seemed to break the spirits of the young Headers team, and as frustration mounted the teams began to play an increasingly physical brand of soccer.

After a third Danvers goal, a discouraged and venting Levine was given a yellow card and pulled from the contest.

With the game out of reach and the focus now set for Wednesday's game against Peabody, coach Benedick began using his second-unit players. When the final whistle sounded, Danvers celebrated a 5-0 victory and the first career shutout for Andrew Douglas.

"There were definitely some lapses in concentration," said Benedick about the continued stretches during which the Headers' effort diminished. "We just need to keep focused on our next game now, and learn from every situation even when we lose the game."

Two Marblehead players were taken from the game following hard hits to the head for precautionary measures, but neither appeared seriously injured.