Mounties Play Tough in Loss to Worcester North
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — With a pair of tough games against high-quality Division 1 opponents from across the state in the past week, it's clear that the Mount Greylock boys' soccer team isn't afraid to challenge itself.While the Mounties like to be challenged and test themselves, they probably aren't big on experiencing losses like the 1-0 defeat they suffered at the hands of Worcester North on Wednesday. Blair Dils' squad played the Division 1 Central Mass. champions straight up, even earning a 9-6 edge in shots in the game, but a goal by Derrick Acheampong in the 75th minute proved to be the difference in the Polar Bear's 1-0 win over Greylock.
"It was a bitter defeat today," Dils said. "We played well enough to win against one of the top teams in Central Mass., only to see it slip away at the end. This was not a mismatch or 'hold-on-for-dear-life' type of game. We attacked them consistently throughout the game and should have done better on the finishing end."
It was the second loss in three games for the Mounties, who lost a similar game to D-1 Amherst on Saturday. The tougher competition and busy schedule in which Greylock (9-2-1) played four matches in seven days took its toll on Dils' squad. After scoring 3.77 goals per game in their first nine games, the Mounties managed just two goals in its last three matches, going 0-2-1 during that stretch.
"Four games in seven days was a physical and mental challenge for us," Dils said. "Hopefully this kind of stretch will prepare us for Monument [Mountain] on Monday and the tournament in November."
Although the outcome wasn't what Greylock was hoping for, Dils has to be happy with his team's effort on Wednesday. Led by play of defender Jonah Majumder and goalie Sean Houston, the Mounties' defense held North (10-1) to just one shot in the first half and only six for the entire game. Acheampong eventually got on the board, however, by being in the right place in the right time with five minutes left in the game. His goal was set up by a powerful shot from the top of the box that hit off the crossbar and careened right to Acheampong on the back post. He had time to take the ball down and drive a hard, close-range shot right through Houston's legs.
"They were extremely fast and good on the ball," Dils said. "We were the more organized team in the attack, while they looked for one-on-one play trying to isolate defenders and get to goal. A tie would have been an extremely fair result for them but, in the end, they showed why they are the defending D-1 Central champs.
"Sean was tested a few times in the second half but handled their shots with confidence. On the last one, he didn't have much of a chance."
Houston finished with four saves in net, while Angelo Perrone stopped five shutouts to earn the shutout in net for the Polar Bears. Dils said his team had a few good chances to get on the scoreboard in the second half.
"Nathan [Majumder] got loose at the top of the box and fired a hard, low shot that the goalie made a good foot save on," he said. "Eric Hirsch had a mostly open goal mouth to shoot on off a rebound, but he pulled that wide."
Greylock has a few days off now before returning to action with a pivotal North Division game at home against Monument Mountain on Monday.