It’s been exactly two weeks since the Marblehead High boys soccer team (7-2) last suited up to play a real game with the usual consequences. They might have had intrasquad scrimmages to stay sharp, but the fun of beating a rival from a nearby town was definitely nonexistent.
Before they went on the midseason scheduled break, the Magicians escaped with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over host Danvers on Sept. 19. Upon their return last Friday afternoon (Oct. 3), they appeared to be well-rested, and couldn’t wait to get going, much to the chagrin of the Peabody Tanners.
Playing in their fifth consecutive game away from the friendly confines of Piper Field, Coach Elmer Magana’s squad convincingly defeated its Northeastern Conference (NEC) rival, 7-0. It was their second straight shutout win over Peabody. The first time around at Piper on Sept. 10, they knocked them out by a 3-0 count.
It couldn’t have gone any better for a team that was on an extended break, and Magana couldn’t be any happier. “I’m very proud of how determined and driven my boys were to earn this victory,” he said. “Not playing for two weeks can ice you, unless you already have ice in your veins like my boys did (here in Peabody). We took care of the Tanners, and now are moving on to host Gloucester (Oct. 6 after press deadline).”
Julien Poitevin paced the offensive attack with a hat trick. Miles Fontela-Tuttle chipped in with two scores. Bubacarr Jallow and Ilan Druker each scored once. Erik Badzak was the assist leader with three. Mark Vinokur, freshman Mitchell Leighton, Poitevin and Druker set up one goal apiece. Junior goalie Andrew Halvorson recorded the shutout to secure his first clean sheet of the season. He was filling in for Matias Watts-Cruz, who was off visiting colleges on a recruiting trip.
Magana singled out center backs T.J. Kelly and Adam Laughlin after the game. “They put up a (proverbial) wall to stop Peabody from getting anything started on offense,” he said.
