Westfield Voc Edges McCann Tech in Western Mass
WESTFIELD, Mass. -- Vitaliy Tereschuk scored out of a scramble in the 6-yard box to give Westfield Voc a 1-0 win over
McCann Tech in the first round of the Western Massachusetts Division 4 tournament on Tuesday.
McCann Tech in the first round of the Western Massachusetts Division 4 tournament on Tuesday.
The fifth-seeded Tigers (18-1-1) got a measure of revenge for last Friday's penalty-kick shootout in the State Vocational Tournament Championship.
McCann coach Tom Bona said the rematch went a lot like the last round between the two teams.
"It was a very tight game, back and forth, just like the last one," he said. "They just got one in regulation.
"We had a few chances in the beginning. We had a couple of breakaways that could have been the difference. But they're a good team, and I believe we're a good team."
Tuesday's game looked like it too would need at least overtime to decide it for the first 49 minutes. Each team had its share of first half chances, including those breakaways by the Hornets (14-6-1).
But each side's defense held up. McCann keeper Chris Gajda made five of his eight saves in the first half to keep it scoreless.
Then, 49 minutes, 34 seconds into the game, Tereschuk pressured on a cross from the left wing and managed to get just enough on the ball in front of Gajda and a defender to score the first goal by either team in more than 149 minutes.
McCann did what it could to get pressure from three on out, repeatedly bringing Gajda into the offensive end to take free kicks. But Vitaliy Covileac (10 saves) made Tereschuk's goal hold up.
Westfield Voc in the quarters faces the winner of Tuesday's game between Smith Academy and Pioneer Christian.
McCann graduates seven players off this year's roster: Gajda, leading scorers Shane Fuller, Jon Leal and Damon Couture midfielder Kevin Dowling, and defensive stalwarts Trejan Skiffington and Austin Worth.
"I'm losing some good players," Bona said. "There are going to be some big shoes to fill next year. They will be missed.
"They did well. We won our division, and we won the Voc title. So they have nothing to be sad about. They played well. They had a good season.
"They all hate to quit.. But somebody's got to win, and somebody's got to lose."