RallyNorth.net

Knights extend Tarbox' career

Monday, November, 12 By Jeff Hamrick

LYNN — North Andover's Bill Tarbox announced earlier in the year this would be his final season coaching boys soccer.

His Scarlet Knights, however, are in no hurry for their goodbyes.

Tarbox will be at the helm for at least two more days after second-seeded North Andover downed perennial power Concord-Carlisle 3-1 at Manning Field last night, earning the program's first North sectional title since 1999.

Beating the fifth-seeded Patriots, who had gone 2-1 in the past three state title games, earned North Andover a spot in Wednesday's 7:30 p.m. Eastern Massachusetts championship against South No. 1 seed Medway (18-3-1) at Braintree High School.

"Words can't describe this," North Andover defenseman Connor Boudreau said. "We haven't been here (in the sectional final) in 12 years and haven't won it in 13 (since beating Woburn) so to be a part of it and be the captain of the team that won it is just an unbelievable feeling. Words can't describe it."

Although North Andover now has won 10 of it past 11 and defeated four playoff opponents by a combined 9-4, Tarbox might be as surprised as anyone with his squad's postseason run. Not because he doesn't have the talent, but because they've overcome so many injuries.

"Because we really banged up, I didn't expect we'd be here," Tarbox said. "I was hoping. We've made things happen at the right time."

Making things happen last night were Andrew Valdes, Mike Skarbelis and Evan Dudney, who scored North Andover's goals.

Valdes provided the opening score, drilling a rebound off a shot by Dennis Graef in the 17th minute. Concord tied the score eight minutes later, but Skarbelis scored the game winner with 4:37 left in the first half on a header. Dudney's clincher was an empty netter with 1:45 left in the match.

"Before every tournament game, we've dedicated our game to him," Boudreau said of Tarbox. "He's been a great coach. We really want to win this for him. We've won the North now and we hope to go all the way and win states now."

For his part, Tarbox is simply enjoying the still-running end of a 40-year career that has seen him win 423 matches.

"Being in my last year, being in a new league (moving up to the Merrimack Valley), going undefeated in that new league, getting to the North final and winning the North championship, what more can you ask for," Tarbox said. "I just hope we can continue."