Making it their year

Not once during the 2015 postseason has Masconomet been the “home” team. As the No. 9 seed, they entered the tournament playing in Danvers, then went to Chelsea, then Lynn for the last two games.

These Chieftains have proven to be road warriors. Ever the underdog in this tournament, the Masconomet boys soccer team rose up to defeat the 2014 state champion Concord-Carlisle 2-1 in penalty kicks at Lynn’s Manning Field on Monday.

The underdog label was one that charged up the Chieftains, who will play in their third Division 2 state final in five seasons, having won the 2013 title.

“We talked about it prior to the game. You’re the underdog, they’re the defending state champion,” said Chieftains head coach Jared Scarpaci. “We have nothing to lose. Go out there, respect them, but we need to play our game. We can’t be afraid, and we did it.”

Masco and Concord-Carlisle exchanged early goals in the first and second halves, respectively, to leave the scoreboard still showing 1-1 after 100 minutes. The spotlight turned to a rotation of shooters and Masco goalkeeper Steven Heintzelman and C-C goalie David Frenkil.

“Coach [Scarpaci] said ‘At least try to get one,’” said Heintzelman. “I had faith in our shooters. It worked out, it feels good.”

“We practice them after every win and … I tell them to win it in regulation, because we’re not very good at them,” laughed Scarpaci. “They work hard and it comes down to a save here and a miss there, and we got it.”

Masco’s Mitchell Forbes set the tone with a goal high in to the right, a shot which Concord-Carlisle’s Cole Easton very nearly copied. From there, Masco’s Andrew Musiak, Bryan Gilbert and Josh Polakiewicz each scored goals. Concord-Carlisle’s Henry Steers and Benjamin Dibble also scored to make it 4-3. In the middle of that exchange, Heintzelman stopped Sam Royce.

Masco’s Mike Budrewicz was very nearly the hero, but his shot sailed over the crossbar. In the end, when Concord-Carlisle’s Sam Eaton hit the left post, it was all over.

“I didn’t see it. I was going all out, but I heard it, and I looked around and it bounced out. I knew that [was the win],” said Heintzelman. “I was waiting for the whistle, I didn’t want to go [celebrate] early.”

Masconomet knew it had to be the first on the board, and not let Concord-Carlisle get into shutdown mode. What better way to do this than to score within the first two minutes.

Blaise Romanowski made a cross from the right side of the field, and Anthony Tzortzis ran to the ball and popped it into the left side of the net, prompting a grandiose 75-yard celebration run.

“I think it was awesome that we came out hot for the first time this year,” said Masco defender Alex Spaulding. “We haven’t scored an early goal yet this year, so it was great to get one, especially against a nationally-ranked team at one point.” 

Besides a shot on from a corner, Masco didn’t get another chance for a shot on. On the other side, Concord-Carlisle also didn’t get any serious chances. The two teams went after each other at full speed, making for a lot of physical contact and 1-on-1 battles. Henry Steers sent a hard shot just over the crossbar with a few minutes remaining in the first.

A little over three and a half minutes into the second half, Concord-Carlisle’s Henry Steers carried the ball in off a feed from Easton. The ball was almost stripped just outside the box, but Steers was able to regroup and keep possession, shooting one just past Heintzelman from the right for the 1-1 tie.

“I didn’t know about [Steers],” Spaulding said. “We knew about [C-C striker Lior Selve], who went out with a hamstring injury. I heard he was their goal-scorer, but as it turns out [Steers] was. I thought [Thomas Ratcliffe] was one of their most deadly players down the sideline. He was very quick.”

Masco had the better chances in the second, with Spaulding almost putting one in from the side, but Frenkil was there for the save.

Gilbert almost broke in on goal in the second half, but went 1v1 with Frenkil who essentially laid out the Masco striker with a hockey check. Nothing came of the resulting free kick, and on into PK’s the evening went.

“It was a great high school game between two teams that left it on the field,” said Concord-Carlisle coach Ray Pavlik. “It’s a shame it has to go to PK’s. Someone has to walk away the victor. Hats off to them, I wish them all the luck. In more than 50 tournament games, I’ve never gone to PK’s. I said ‘Just relax, do your best.’ We practice it, obviously, but it’s tough to simulate this kind of pressure.”

While Concord-Carlisle finished a 16-3-1 season, Masconomet (now 17-4-3) will advance to face Oliver Ames (of North Easton) in the Division 2 state championship game. Oliver Ames enters Saturday’s title game undefeated at 17-0-3.

“I have looked at Oliver Ames record, and they haven’t lost, so I assume they’re good,” said Scarpaci. “This team’s goal – and I don’t set it – is to go to the state championship game. What do you say when you have a team that wants to do that, and does that?”