Leal Scores Two to Lead McCann Past Putnam

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- The McCann Tech boys soccer team closed out the home portion of its schedule Tuesday afternoon with a 2-0 win over Putnam. 

 

McCann wasted no time getting things started in the first half. Senior Jonathan Leal netted one five minutes into the game to give McCann the lead. Junior Nathan Charon earned the assist.

 

The Hornets continued to control the remainder of the first half and had a lot of shots on net that could have put them ahead at ease going into the second half, but they were missed opportunities.

 

“We weren’t getting clean shots off today,” coach Tom Bona said.

 

McCann led at half 1-0, but much like the first half they came out in the beginning of the second and got things moving quickly.

 

In the 32nd minute, senior Trejan Skiffington took a throw-in in McCann’s offensive end; Leal, who was positioned just outside the six, took the ball off a bounce and placed it perfectly in the back of the net to put them up 2-0, where the score remained.

 

The second half brought some opportunities for Putnam, but McCann’s defense and senior goalie Chris Gajda, who earned his 22nd career shutout, let nothing past them.

 

Coach Bona said that Tuesday's game was a good test for what McCann will be facing come tournament play. 

 

“They’re a strong defensive team, which is good work for our offense” Bona said. “Just the strong defense that they always play; they have some big guys back there, so it was good for our offense to go against that, because that’s what we’re going to face.”

 

McCann finishes up their regular season Wednesday afternoon against Mount Everett. From there, it looks to take down Blue Hills for the semifinal of the State Vocational tournament.

 

The Hornets earned the No. 2 seed, which awarded them with home field advantage, but the McCann girls also earned home field advantage on Thursday. The boys will be traveling to a neutral field; Assabet Valley in Marlboro, Mass., for a 4 p.m. start.