GREENFIELD — Playing without leading scorer Bryce King, the Athol High School boys soccer team edged Greenfield, 2-1, in an independent contest on Thursday afternoon.
King has strep throat but will return next week.
In King’s absence, Athol was held scoreless without many opportunities in the first half.
“We were a little bit out of focus,” Athol coach Ruddy Paulino said. “I know we finished in the end, but we have to work on some of the mental stuff and preparation.”
Tony Carbone scored two second-half goals in his first varsity action to give the Red Raiders (6-1-3) the win.
“It was nice to see someone putting themselves in the right place at the right time,” Paulino said of Carbone. “It took us a little bit to adjust, but in the second half, we looked a little bit better.”
Carbone took a pass from Colby Soltysik, who was near Greenfield’s end line on the right side of the field, in the 66th minute to give the Red Raiders a 1-0 lead.
Soltysik’s well-placed pass went right in front of the Greenfield net.
“I was holding my run,” Carbone said. “If he passed it back, I could get it. We did well passing the ball. It was pretty exciting.”
Carbone attacked a bouncing ball just inside the 18-yard line for the game’s second goal. Soltysik sent the ball into the area from inside midfield.
The defense of Mark Ferrari, Zack Aldrich and Soltysik controlled most of the Greenfield offensive chances.
But the combination of Caleb Duncan and Dante Ruggiano did get Greenfield on the board in the 79th minute to give the Wave a chance.
Ruggiano served the ball in the air to the head of Duncan, who netted the goal inside the penalty area to cut the deficit to 2-1.
“He had missed a couple that were so close,” Greenfield coach Andy Rup said of Duncan. “He finally hit that one in.”
The Green Wave were unable to generate any chances in the final minute against the Red Raiders defense.
“I think they had a lot of heart,” Paulino said of Greenfield. “They were winning balls and were a little more aggressive than we were. We were a little bit timid. They probably underestimated (Greenfield).”
The young Greenfield (1-7) team was without Theo Popusoi.
“My guys have been practicing hard every day,” Rup said. “They come to every game and they don’t give up. I can’t say enough about them; how they play, what they do. We are just trying to build a program.”
Alex Carballo made eight saves for the Wave.
In net for the Red Raiders was Casey Mason, who recorded nine saves.
Ruggiano had an opportunity in the first half on a breakaway, but overran the pass and could not get a shot off against Mason.
Duncan had a good chance in the second half near the 18-yard line but Mason made the save.
Both teams are on the road Monday, as Athol heads to Renaissance and Greenfield travels to Mahar.
Athol 2, Greenfield 1
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Athol |
0 |
2 |
— |
2 |
|
Greenfield |
0 |
1 |
— |
1 |
Goals: (A) Carbone 2. (G) Duncan.
Assists: (A) Soltysik. (G) Ruggiano.
Saves: (A) Mason 9. (G) Carballo 8.
