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By Michael Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
On Monday afternoon, the Westwood High School varsity boys soccer team played host to non-conference opponent Natick in their regular season finale. Thanks to a strong showing in net by goalkeeper Nicholas Barner (eight saves) and a solid all-around effort from Patrick and Michael Moylan, the Wolverines (9-6-3, 6-5-3) came away with a 2-1 victory to finish the regular season on a positive note.
Clutch saves by Barner and lockdown defensive play by the Westwood backfield kept the game scoreless at the half. Less than 30 seconds into the second half, however, the Wolverines drew first blood when Joshua Morrison-Deutsch broke in on a fast break and deposited the ball home just inside the far left post, giving Westwood a 1-0 lead. Less than five minutes later with 35:13 to play, the Wolverines struck again when Patrick Moylan took a feed from brother Michael off of a free kick and fired it home just inside the left post to extend the Westwood lead to 2-0.
From left-to-right, Westwood’s Joshua Morrison-Deutsch (15), Ryan Lewis (9), Brian Reissfelder (4), and Brian Gibbons (14) get prepared to defend against a Natick free kick.
Natick responded with a goal to cut it to 2-1 with a little over 20 minutes to play, but the play of the game came from Westwood senior defender Brian Reissfelder. With 15 minutes to play, Reissfelder prevented the would-be tying goal by rushing back, diving, and clearing the ball when a Natick attacker broke in and got around Barner for an uncontested shot on the open net with about 15 minutes to play. Thanks to Reissfelder’s clutch defensive play, as well as some late dirty work by the Wolverines to kill the clock in the Natick end, the Wolverines pulled out the 2-1 victory to finish regular season with nine total wins - enough to earn a spot in the South Sectional playoffs.
Patrick Moylan (2) navigates the ball through midfield for Westwood early in the first half.
At the time of print, the Wolverines wait for their postseason seeding to be determined by the MIAA.
For funny and incisive sports analysis, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter at @fLAno0, or read his blog at www.flannylive.wordpress.com.
