SENIOR CAPTAIN Kiernan Schulz and the NRHS boys’ soccer team outlasted North Middlesex in the first round 2-1 on Nov. 4 in double overtime. The Hornets played CAL foe Newburyport in the Round of 16 on Wednesday with the winner set to go to Norwell for the quarterfinals on Saturday at 5 p.m. (File Photo)
Traveled to Newburyport for Round of 16 Wednesday
By DAN NUNN
TOWNSEND — Josh Stanieich scored twice including the golden goal with five minutes left in the 2nd OT in a first round game against North Middlesex in Townsend, to send the NRHS boys’ soccer team to the Round of 16 of the Division 3 State Tournament.
“What a fantastic game,” said head coach Mark Bisognano. “Both sides played hard and fair. Max (Gulino) hit a great cross and Josh managed to get himself free on the back post. When Josh gets a sniff of the goal he’s going to convert.”
The Hornets earned the No. 22 seed based on the power rankings which meant that they had to travel to Townsend for their round of 32 matchup against the No. 11 seed North Middlesex Regional.
After goalkeeper Kieran Gorgenyi came off his line and made a terrific 1-on-1 save in the 28th minute, NRHS struck first.
Carpenter played a ball over the Patriots’ back line where Stanieich streaked past the defense and rifled a half-volley into the bottom left corner of the net.
After the opening goal, North Middlesex immediately called timeout to regroup. The timeout paid instant dividends because 38 seconds after play resumed, the Patriots scored to tie the game 1-1
The Hornets did have one more great chance to score before the half when Stanieich curled a shot toward the top right corner of the goal. The goalkeeper guided it off the post and Matt Fleury put the rebound over the crossbar.
The second half started at a frenetic pace but after 10 minutes, the Hornets settled down, took control and created solid scoring chances for Rob Corvino, Jake Mikulski and Matt Fleury. Those chances went wide or were saved by the goalkeeper and the game went to overtime.
The MIAA tournament uses a “golden goal” format, so the next goal would win. The first of two 10-minute OT’s went by with few opportunities for either team. If the second overtime were to end scoreless, the game would go to a penalty shootout.
Thankfully, there would be no shootout on this night.
Liam Rodger and Max Gulino connected for a neat combination play of passes up the left wing which ended with Gulino firing a low hard cross into the North Middlesex penalty area. Brady Miller couldn’t quite get a foot on the cross, but Stanieich was waiting at the back post. The Hornets’ leading scorer made no mistake and fired a right footed shot into the bottom right corner of the goal past the sprawling goalkeeper.
“Kiernan Schulz was amazing and the back four of Cody Cannalonga, Nathan Miller, Liam Rodger and Jason Emerson stepped up and played all 95 minutes keeping (North Middlesex’s) two dangerous forwards under wraps the whole night,” said Bisognano.
“Matt Fleury played well, Alex Carpenter, Jake Mikulski and Brady Miller had great games in the midfield, but I’m really happy for Rob Corvino and Kevin Doble who played up front tonight. Corvino has played so well in practices for the last two weeks and Doble was tremendous in an unfamiliar position.”
The Hornets traveled to meet CAL foe Newburyport (No. 6) on Wednesday for the Round of 16 after press time. The two teams split the season series with identical 1-0 victories.
The winner will head to Norwell for the quarterfinals to meet the No. 3 Clippers on Saturday at 5 p.m.
