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Triton keeps Pentucket out of postseason with tie

Friday, October, 26 By John Shimer
Staff writer

One goal short.

The Pentucket boys soccer team missed the state tournament by that margin yesterday, playing Triton to a 0-0 tie. The Sachems needed to win to clinch a postseason berth. Pushed to the brink of elimination with five games to play, the Sachems beat Ipswich, Rockport, Amesbury and Newburyport to set up yesterday's season finale.

However, a gutsy performance by the Viking seniors kept the Sachems off the score sheet, sending them home for the tournament.

Pentucket certainly had the run of play for much of the game and had the better scoring opportunities, but the Vikings were able to stifle the Sachems attack time and again before Pentucket could get in the dangerous areas of the field.

The best scoring chance for the Sachems happened with 21 minutes remaining in the game. One of the Pentucket players delivered a beautiful through-ball for a breakaway, but Triton senior goalie Charlie Loring came out to break up the play.

On the ensuing Sachems corner, the ball was played to the far post where it bounced and then was flicked on by another Pentucket player seemingly headed for the opposite post. However, the ball flicked off the crossbar harmlessly over goal for a goal kick, killing any rebound opportunities. "I just can't believe the ball didn't go in the net; we hit the crossbar at least twice, and the guys really played their hearts out," said the emotional Pentucket coach Christian Langlois after the game. "I felt like we were back at the beginning of the season where the luck just wasn't going our way, and we came up only inches away from the tournament.

"We definitely peaked, though, at the end of the season, which is the way you want it to go," Langlois continued. "Looking back, I just wish it could have happened earlier.

"We have some great seniors on this team, especially the captains, they were great leaders for four years. I am just disappointed we couldn't extend the season for those guys." The Vikings were nearly left in the same place as the Sachems two weeks ago after a tough stretch. They lost three straight games to North Andover, Hamilton-Wenham, and Manchester Essex. But things changed in a hurry once Triton got to play its River Rivals, knocking off both Newburyport and Amesbury before yesterday's tie.

"I am very pumped to be headed to the state tournament, because I didn't think we were going to make it," said Triton captain Caleb Noble. "I think if we play like we did against Wilmington back at the beginning of the month, we will be a tough out in the tournament. There are 11 real good starters on this team and two outstanding keepers, who keep in every game, so we are ready to go."

Triton's coach Brad Smith said the game was all about his seniors.

"I am so happy for a lot of those guys (the seniors). Charlie Loring, who made a ton of good saves in the net, Brian McDonald, and Tyler Ferrick," Smith said. "Those guys have been unselfish all year because they don't play many minutes, but they cause no issues, and today they led us."