Team | Final |
---|---|
Playoff Game | |
Haverhill | 2 |
Woburn | 3 |
Saturday, November, 10
By Alan Siegel
Staff writer
LOWELL | Haverhill boys soccer coach John Coppola hopes the town's elementary and middle school soccer players have been watching lately.
The program, despite the Hillies' 3-2 overtime loss to Woburn in the Division 1 North semifinals yesterday at Cawley Stadium, is on the upswing.
"It's flourishing now," Coppola said. "I hope the kids below see what's happening."
For the second straight year, his club advanced farther than any previous Haverhill squad. Last year, the Hillies fell to Lincoln-Sudbury 4-2 in the North quarterfinals and finished with a 14-3-2 record. That came after finishing 7-8-4 and 5-10-4 in 2005 and 2004, respectively.
Haverhill will return six starters next season, including Eagle-Tribune All-Star defender Charlie Roche, defender Zach Greene defender Leo Worcester and midfielders Alex Hussein, Will Menter and Ryan McLeod.
Yesterday's loss, while tough to take, is proof of how far Haverhill soccer has come in recent years. The Hillies clawed their way back from a two-goal deficit in the second half, only to be stunned by Dave Clark's 35-yard blast in the fifth minute of overtime.
Afterward, the Haverhill players were frustrated. After all, they were the better offensive team in the second half.
"It's the old cliche," Coppola said. "Someone's got to lose. It's a shame."
137 Monument St.
Haverhill, MA 01830
Website
Map & Directions
RallyNorth.net is a product of the Eagle-Tribune Publishing Co. All rights reserved.
© 2024 Eagle-Tribune Publishing Co., 100 Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. 01845; 978-946-2000
High school sports schedules are subject to change.
0 JIm Menter
They actually return 6 starters. In addition to those above, they also return defender Leo Worcester.
Report! #1 11/17/2007 12:46 PM