WALPOLE — If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.
It’s a simple philosophy, but it is also a phrase that Oliver Ames soccer fans might be saying to themselves for years to come.
The Tigers may have met their toughest challenge of the season Saturday, but thanks to some late-game heroics, they managed to cap their unforgettable season in the greatest manner possible.
Senior Hector Bucio netted the game-tying goal off a header, while sophomore Casey Milliken (two goals) buried the winning tally as top-seeded Oliver Ames (20-1-2) scored a pair of goals in stoppage time to capture the Div. 2 boys soccer title with a stunning 3-2 victory over No. 2 Hopkinton.
It was the first state championship for the program since 2015. However, winning it proved anything but easy. Despite countless chances in the first 40 minutes, the Tigers still found themselves in a scoreless contest with Hopkinton at the break. The Hillers, on the other hand, capitalized on their few opportunities. Two minutes into the second half, Hopkinton (19-2-2) took a 1-0 lead off a goal from Sean Golembiewski.
Milliken would even things in the 62nd minute, as he hauled in a pass from Joey Carney before sniping a goal to make it a 1-1 contest.
Then, chaos ensued. Just minutes later, Golembiewski fed a pass to Peter DeMichele. The senior captain registered a go-ahead goal, and the Hillers were suddenly on the verge of a state title, leading 2-1.
With only a few moments to save their season, Oliver Ames coach John Barata called a timeout to make a few changes.
“The last five minutes, we just said, ‘Give it all,’ ” Barata said. “We worked so hard this season to get to this point. They wanted it, so we couldn’t give it away. At least give it your all, to make sure we get to the end.”
The Tigers didn’t relent. As Oliver Ames desperately searched for an equalizer in the 77th minute, sophomore Craig Churchill decided to simply launch a pass into the box, hoping for a lucky bounce. His prayer was answered, as Bucio headed the ball. It proceeded to ricochet off a Hopkinton defensive back and into the net, tying the game at 2-all.
As fans exploded into pandemonium, the Hillers scrambled to regain focus, as did Oliver Ames. Seconds later, senior Jacob Williams possessed the ball. He immediately looked upfield for Milliken.
“I looked up and made eye contact with him,” Williams said. “I knew that if I just hit this up the right way, that he would get to it.”
Williams’ pass slipped through Hopkinton’s defensive front to Milliken’s feet, and the All-American was ready to strike. The sophomore got past the backline, then chipped a shot into the netting to win the title for Oliver Ames.
“I really can’t process a lot right now,” Milliken said. “All I know is that we’re state champions, and the boys deserve it. I’m just proud of all of them.”
