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By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
When you hear about Brockton and Xaverian meeting up in the playoffs during the fall athletic season, one normally thinks football. Last Thursday night at Plymouth North High School, however, the Xaverian and Brockton varsity soccer teams met in the semifinal round of the Division I South soccer playoffs.
In a tight, defensive-minded nail biter, the No. 3 Boxers outlasted the No. 2 Hawks by a 1-0 final, with the golden goal coming off the head of Vanilton Xavier on a long stretch pass by Erick Brito during stoppage time in overtime.
“This one will definitely hurt for a while,” said Xaverian head coach Gary Bowers following the defeat. “We’re really proud of this group for the effort they put in, and for all they’ve accomplished this year. That [Brockton] is a really good team over there.”
Xaverian had its chances during regulation. With just under 15 minutes remaining, senior Lorenzo Mancini nearly gave the Hawks a 1-0 lead on a cross from Finn Mungovan, booting a ball at the net-mouth that was turned aside by Brockton keeper George Cheretakis. During stoppage time, senior Evan Sepe headed a ball on frame off a corner that was also turned aside by a diving Cheretakis, sending the game into sudden-death overtime.
For funny and incisive sports analysis, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter and Instagram @flano0.
