Pittsfield, Westfield Boys Play to 0-0 Tie

PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- After an eventful first half that saw the Pittsfield boys soccer team create a number of dangerous chances, Saturday afternoon's second half against Westfield was, for the most part, contested in the middle third of the Kirvin Park pitch.

 

The end result of each half was the same: no scoring for either side and a 0-0 final between the Generals and the visitors from Westfield High.

 

Jon Bile was credited with two saves for Pittsfield, and Ian Saltmarsh made five stops for the Bombers.

 

One of those five came in the final two minutes, when the Generals created their strongest pressure of the second half in an attempt to finally break through Westfield's shell.

 

PHS coach Andrew Antil said there came a point in the game where his team needed to change its approach to adjust to the Bombers' defensive posture.

 

"I think we did it a little too late," Antil said. "But they're a tough team. They're always tough. You never know when they're going to break out.

 

"So we wanted ot make sure we didn't concede any unnecessary goals. But it would have been nice to get forward a little bit more, get a little bit more offense going."

 

Pittsfield (2-0-1) had some chances to break things open early.

 

In the third minute, Nate Robarge took a through ball on the left wing and got off a shot inside the 18 that forced Saltmarsh to make a diving save.

 

Four minutes later, a left wing corner kick found Pittsfield's Jackson Rich on the far post, but his redirect went just wide of the net.

 

In the middle of the first half, Pittsfield had two free kicks two minutes apart from just outside the top of the 18, but each kick went over the crossbar.

 

Even Westfield was able to generate a little more offense in the first half, but its shots came from well out on the wing and were easily handled by Bile, who registered his third shutout of the young season.

 

In the second half, Antil indicated Pittsfield may have been feeling the fatigue of three games -- two on hot muggy days -- in five days.

 

"I think we got tired in the second half," he said. "We lost the middle of the field a bit, and we got a little desparate. And when that happens, we forget about the center midfielders and start playing more long ball."

 

Pittsfield plays three games in four days this week, starting with Tuesday's date with Mount Greylock in Williamstown.