RallyNorth.net

Mon, Sep 24, 2007 06:30 PM @ Danvers

Team	Final
Gloucester	2
Danvers	0

Defending NEC soccer champs Gloucester blank Danvers

Tuesday, September, 25 By Jean DePlacido
Correspondent

DANVERS | Last year, after the Gloucester boys soccer team beat Danvers on its home field to clinch the Northeastern Conference title, swarms of Fishermen fans rushed from the stands to join the celebration.

Last night Gloucester made it two victories in a row on the Falcons' home field with a 2-0 victory at Dr. Deering Stadium.

Danvers head coach Antonio Lage warned his team to mark Gloucester center midfielder Nick LoCoco. But the Falcons didn't pay enough attention to the always-dangerous midfielder, who put his team on the board 21 minutes into the game.

The Falcons had a defensive mixup in front, leaving LoCoco uncovered. He then fired the ball into the far corner of the net out of the reach of sophomore netminder Andrew Mikulski. "I coach (LoCoco) on the Aztec Soccer Club, and I kept telling my kids they had to stay right on him. You can't give him any room but we gave him two yards, and any time you do that he will make you pay," said Lage. "Both LoCoco and that Trotsky kid (Alexander) are so quick in the midfield.

"We had numerous opportunities in the first half. We wanted to capitalize and get some momentum, but weren't able to." Danvers had its first big threat seven minutes into the scoreless game when sophomore Chris Ciampa used his speed to get through the defense, but his shot hit the top crossbar. Later in the first half, Ciampa crossed the ball in front to Phil Marchwinski, who tried to get a shot off from right in front. But Gloucester keeper Dom Braga raced out to smother the ball.

Braga, who had 10 saves, was huge in keeping the Falcons off the scoreboard.

Gloucester added a big goal in the 54th minute of play when Trotsky drilled a shot from point blank range that the goalie saved. But the rebound came right to to Frank Taormina, who kicked it into the back of the net.

That goal fired the visitors up and took a lot out of Danvers. The Falcons seemed to wear down as the second half went on.

"That second goal was a real killer for us," said Lage. "I'm not pleased because I felt my boys could have played harder tonight. It has to be all 11 guys. because playing with only four or five giving it everything is tough. Maybe I have to learn to tone it down a little and not yell as much."

Lage singled out his four seniors | captains Marchwinski and Tim Davison along with Kevin McCarthy and Ryan Burge | for their fine play.