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By Michael Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Following a 9-6-2 regular season, the Walpole High School varsity boys soccer team earned the No. 12 seed in the Division II South Sectionals. The Rebels traveled to No. 5 Diman Regional last Tuesday afternoon and emerged with a 2-0 upset win, setting up a quarterfinal date at No. 4 Oliver Ames on Thursday night with the chance to move on to the South semifinals.
Aidan Murray (10) fights for a loose ball with an Oliver Ames defender along the sidelines during the Rebels’ South quarterfinal matchup on Thursday night in Easton.
OA drew first blood with 23:40 remaining in the first half to jump out to a 1-0 lead. The Rebels almost fought back to tie it just moments after the goal by Oliver Ames when Aidan Murray flew in on a breakaway for the Rebels and flipped a shot over the head of the OA goaltender. The ball was tracked down and booted away just before it crossed the line by an Oliver Ames defender, however, keeping it at a 1-0 deficit for Walpole. The Rebels kept up the pressure but were unable to net the tying goal in the late minutes of the first half, as the game entered halftime with Oliver Ames still in front by one.
Cullen McGlynn (2) attempts to navigate the ball through a trio of Oliver Ames defenders late in the first half.
The second half saw a great amount of energy and desperation out of Walpole, as the Rebels began winning more and more battles for loose balls and controlled the tempo. The hard work finally paid off with a little less than 11 minutes to play in the game as Ferreira Lucas headed home a throw-in to knot the game at one, sending the Walpole sideline and student section into a frenzy. The game remained 1-1 at the end of regulation, meaning overtime and/or penalty kicks would decide the winner.
A scoreless first overtime period sent the game into double overtime. Four minutes into the second overtime, Oliver Ames was awarded a corner kick and capitalized with the game-winning goal off the right foot of James Gillespie, breaking the hearts of the Rebels who had fought extremely hard just to get into this position.
For funny and incisive sports analysis, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter at @fLAno0, or read his blog at www.flannylive.wordpress.com.
