Published in the November 12, 2015 edition
HORNET JUNIOR Anthony Tramontozzi pushes through several Redmen opponents in MIAA tournament play against Tewksbury. (Deanna Castro Photo)
By DAN NUNN
NORTH READING — The Hornets boys’ soccer season ended in heartbreaking fashion with their 3-2 overtime loss to the Tewksbury Redmen in the first round of the Division 3 North Sectional on November 5.
Senior Kilian Daly scored both North Reading goals.
Tewksbury (10th seed, 7-8-3) controlled play for most of the first half. In the 12th minute they struck first. With a defender draped all over him a Redmen forward got off a weak header, but senior goalie Billy Brandano was caught out of position and the ball rolled past him over the goal line.
The Hornets (7th seed, 7-4-7) played much better in the final 10 minutes of the first half but couldn’t find the equalizer and the deficit was 1-0 at the half.
Hornets regroup
North Reading looked like a different team in the second half, spending almost the entire time on the attack. In the 47th minute the Hornets appeared to score the tying goal off a rebound. But the referee blew the whistle because he said the goalie established possession, disallowing the score.
The call did nothing to deter their spirit and in the 54th minute Daly ripped a shot past the Tewksbury goalie to the far post to tie it up.
The onslaught continued and in the 63rd minute North Reading took the lead. Junior Carlos Moreno fed Daly who streaked into the box and hit another rocket past the keeper.
It looked like the lead would hold but unfortunately with a little over seven minutes remaining the Redmen tied it up. The game headed into sudden death overtime.
Sudden death OT
Only three minutes into the extra frame Tewksbury scored and escaped with a hard-fought victory.
Final standings
The Hornets ended their season with a final overall record of 7-5-7 while finishing third overall among large schools in the Cape Ann League Kinney Division with a record of 6-4-6.
