Avonlea Cummings
Hometown Weekly Sports Reporter
“You get out what you put in,” This fall season, the Needham boys’ soccer team embodied the phrase as they pursued the Division I State Championship, led by a graduating class of 16 seniors. The Rockets, driven by their hard work, earned the opportunity to compete in the state championship match for the second consecutive year. Facing off against the top-seeded Concord-Carlisle Patriots, the second-seeded Rockets engaged in a challenging and intense battle, ultimately falling short as the Patriots secured the championship title with a 2-0 victory.
In the initial half of the competition, Needham demonstrated strength and determination in their quest for the title. They effectively reached every ball, showcasing precise passing as the Rockets moved cohesively across the field while maintaining composure and possession. Despite Concord-Carlisle's attempts to gain control, the Needham boys swiftly reclaimed the ball, advancing it towards the offensive end. However, the Patriots capitalized first, scoring off a throw-in and securing a 1-0 advantage.
At the halftime whistle, both teams utilized the break to strategize for the upcoming half. In the second half, the Needham boys regained control of the game, generating new scoring opportunities against Concord-Carlisle's net. Despite their efforts, the Patriots extended their lead to 2-0 with a goal from a free kick. Concord-Carlisle adeptly defended against Needham's attempts, securing their 2-0 lead and ultimately winning the state championship.
Head coach James Odierna reflected on the team's growth under the motto as they navigated the season.“You get out what you put in”.
“Even today, we put it all out there on the field we got unlucky a couple of times, and they got some nice goals. We couldn’t quite get the ball in the net and that’s what matters the most in the game, you got to be able to score, but our effort was phenomenal you can’t fault that at all and throughout the season every time we got a setback, we were able to bounce back. We worked hard to get ourselves to this stage and we had a great tournament run, we played very well, dominating throughout, and even today I’d say we played very good soccer out there, there are a lot of great opportunities, we just couldn’t get the goals in the game,” said Odierna.
With a big senior class of 16 seniors, it’s important to recognize all of their hard work and effort throughout the season. Coach Odierna expressed that the team wouldn’t have been at the state championships this season if it wasn’t for the seniors’ leadership.
“The senior class is the reason why we are here tonight, it’s a deep class, with 16 players, and they are all very talented. Every year you go as far as your seniors are willing to take you, you can have talent in other places, but it’s the senior leadership and their desire to win that brings you places. That’s why we are here this year because that class really carried us through. I’m most proud of the boys showing up every day giving everything they had,” said Odierna.
