After totally dominating visiting Danvers last Wednesday (Oct. 15) to the tune of 9-0, the Marblehead High boys soccer team (9-3-1) welcomed non-league state powerhouse West Springfield to Piper on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 18), but that game quickly turned into what players and fans can expect to see in the upcoming state tournament. It ended up in a hard-fought scoreless tie.
But before we jump ahead, there are still five regular season games left on the schedule, starting with a trip to Salem to face the Witches on Oct. 20 after press deadline. They will then be in Boxford Wednesday (Oct. 22) to go up against the Chieftains starting at 4 p.m., before returning to Piper Saturday night (Oct. 25) for a game against non-league North Andover at 6:30 p.m. Games on the road against Winthrop (Oct. 27, 6 p.m.) and non-league Melrose (Oct. 29, 4:30 p.m.) will conclude the regular season. They will then sit around and practice some, while waiting for the state tournament pairings to be announced on Nov. 1.
The game last Saturday pitted the ninth best team in Division 2 (West Springfield, 7-1-8) against the 12th best (Marblehead), according to the Oct. 17 power rankings. The Terriers also won the state title as recently as 2021. But the Marblehead JV squad delivered a message before the main event to their western Massachusetts counterparts with a 2-1 victory. At that point, the Terriers knew it wasn’t going to be an easy afternoon.
“It was truly a playoff atmosphere,” said coach Elmer Magana. “The Terriers brought height, speed, skills and good goalkeeping (to Piper), but nevertheless both teams still took turns exchanging offensive attacks and defensive stops.”
The Marblehead coach said that the eye of the storm was in the middle. “Both teams neutralized each other’s attacks,” he added. “We knew the strength of the (Terriers) was their midfielders, so we focused on stopping them from sending the ball to their forwards by closing the gaps and double-teaming them, and that strategy was pretty successful, because we only allowed two shots on goal in the first half, and just two more in the second.”
Marblehead goalie Matias Watts-Cruz blocked an on goal shot from outside the box in the first half, and in the last two minutes of the game he made a great save from inside the box. “(Watts-Cruz) called the shots for his defense to perfection to earn his seventh shutout of the season,” said Magana.
Adam Loughlin and T.J. Kelly did their jobs in the middle of the field, along with sophomores Judah Spell and Noah Smerka. Captain Ilan Druker also had to play in the middle after Bubacarr Jallow left the game with an injury. “Ilan, (in particular), had a monster game controlling the ball to create scoring chances,” said Magana.
Outside winger Julien Poitevin also tried to develop a scoring play late in the game after he sent a dangerous cross into the box, but to no avail.
Freshman center midfielder Mitchell Leighton played next to Druker, and was brilliant in winning the air balls, according to Magana.
“The game ended in a scoreless draw against a tough Terrier squad from western Mass.,” said Magana afterwards. “We are extremely proud of our boys for battling a state powerhouse right to the end. This definitely had the feel of a playoff game against a highly-ranked opponent, and today we sent a clear message throughout the state that Marblehead soccer can compete and battle with the best of the best.”
In the Danvers game earlier last week, Magana knew that the Falcons would be flying high after consecutive conference victories. “We talked to the boys about how close our last game was at their place (a 2-1 Marblehead win on Sept. 19), and so we needed to slow them down in this game sooner rather than later,” said Magana.
The Marblehead boys carried out those pregame instructions perfectly in the form of a 9-0 rout. Captain Miles Fontela-Tuttle was the MVP of the game, according to Magana, after pacing the team’s offensive attack with four goals. “The desire to climb up in the power rankings inspired the ‘Monarchy,’ – as his friends call him, because of his intense play – to keep on finding the back of the net in this game,” said Magana.
Druker accounted for two scores, while also creating even more opportunities all game long. Julien Poitevin also played well on the wing with his pinpoint crosses.
Erik Badzak was rewarded with a corner goal after doing a great job helping out the forwards and defenders.
“Our defense, in particular, was solid, with (Loughlin and Kelly) specifically stopping every Danvers attack,” said the veteran Marblehead coach. “(Loughlin) also scored a goal on a penalty kick.”
The coach also singled out varsity newcomers Spell and Smerka for playing a solid two-way game, and Cruz once again did his job in net to secure another shutout.
“Overall, I was very impressed with how hungry our boys came out of the gates against Danvers,” said Magana. “They knew we needed to win by at least three goals to help us climb up in the power rankings, (which they did with plenty to spare).”
