For the first time in program history, the Turners Falls boys soccer team will bring some sectional championship hardware back to Montague.
The second-seeded Thunder downed No.1 Monson, 4-3 (PKs), in the Western Mass. Class D championship game at Berkshire Community College on Wednesday afternoon.
“For the school, for the community, the parents, everybody,” Turners Falls coach Matt Kolodziej said. “This was a big win. For all alumni of the Turners Falls soccer team that came close and never won it. This is dedicated to them. It’s amazing to have this group of kids with me right now.”
The Thunder did not make things easy on themselves. Turners Falls watched a three-goal lead disappear in the waning moments of the game. But the Thunder outshot the Mustangs on penalty kicks, leading to the eventual victory.
“It was very nerve-wracking,” Kolodziej said. “We did have that game in hand.”
Kainen Stevens scored the game-winning penalty kick. Although he was apprehensive prior to the moment.
“I never could have dreamt what happened,” Stevens said. “I was telling my teammates in the line that I didn’t want to do it. I wanted someone else to kick. They were all reassuring me. It was a lot of pressure. It came down to me. I would be in the record books that I won the Western Mass. championship. Our school has never won it before. It was a really big deal.”
Monson’s Jake Beaupre scored his third goal of the second half with 45 seconds left in the game to send the contest into overtime. Yolvin Ovalle-Mejia scored twice in the first half for the Thunder. John Ramirez-Martin scored in the second half for Turners Falls.
Not only did the Thunder complete a long-awaited task of winning a sectional championship they also completed their Western Mass. schedule undefeated (16-0-3).
Turners Falls now sets its sights on the state tournament, where the Thunder currently rank No. 16 in the latest MIAA power rankings.
Late Tuesday results
Athol 5, Putnam 0 – The Bears (3-12-2) jumped all over the Beavers in their final match of the season at home on Tuesday night.
Athol scored three times in the first half. Karim Thompson, Lucas L’Ecuyer and Brent Boudreau each found the net in the first 40 minutes.
Boudreau netted a second goal in the 44th minute. Thompson closed out the scoring with his second goal in the 65th minute on an assist from Drake Wing. Nathan Perrault, Thompson and Noah Kapise added assists for the Bears.
Evan Rose made six saves in net for the Bears.
