Walpole's Will Richer (7) attempts to fights off Needham's Noah Goldstein for a loose ball. Photos by Mike Flanagan.
By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
With the score tied at two late in Tuesday afternoon's match between Walpole and Needham High boys varsity soccer, Mitchell Wilson delivered big for the visiting Rockets.
All afternoon, Walpole had been forcing Needham's offense to navigate to the outside, thus limiting the amount of damage that Wilson could do through the middle. Midway through the second half, Wilson finally found a seam and cut to the net to head home an absolutely perfect ball from Peter Spielmann on the wing to give Needham the lead for good.
Before Wilson's heroics, Walpole and Needham had exchanged blows throughout the first half. Spielmann shot home a cross from senior Luke Hart at the net-mouth to give Needham a 1-0 lead just under seven minutes in. Just moments later, however, freshman Ciaran Duffy drew even for Walpole by finishing a perfect ball up the seam by Cameron Hazel through the legs of Needham goalie Ben Wittlin on a breakaway.
A little over four minutes after Duffy's equalizer, Needham retook the lead after senior midfielder Marco Flano put home a loose ball in the center-box. With Needham still leading 2-1 during stoppage time, Walpole was awarded a free kick. After Needham's wall blocked the initial free-kick try, junior midfielder Michael Esdale lofted a cross that was finished at the net-mouth by a diving Tony Aharonian to even the game at two just before halftime.
With Needham controlling the majority of possession throughout the second half, Wilson's header finally broke the tie with about 21 minutes to play. The Rockets thwarted Walpole from generating much offense during the final 20 minutes and came away with the 3-2 victory.
For funny and incisive sports analysis as well as video highlights of games, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter and Instagram handles @flano0.
