The Martha's Vineyard Times

Bishop Feehan blanks Martha's Vineyard in boys soccer

By Jim Hickey
October 17, 2012

Photo by Ralph Stewart

Kyp Cooperrider leaped to make a dramatic clearance. [More Photos]

The Martha's Vineyard Regional High School boys soccer team played well against conference rival Bishop Feehan at home Saturday, but failed to capitalize on a number of premium scoring opportunities early, en route to a 2-0 loss.

The two teams entered the important division match-up with similar records; the Vineyarders were 5-2-4 overall, while Feehan came in with a record of 6-4-2. Both teams were 3-1-2 in the Eastern Athletic Conference (EAC).

The game started as a defensive stalemate, and neither team was able to take a shot on goal for the first eight minutes. But thanks to great ball control, the Vineyarders were able to get some quality shots about midway through the half.

With 22:42 left in the half, Noah Kleinhenz almost scored off a free kick. And then four minutes later Martin Aranzabe found himself one-on-one with the goalie in front of the net but missed wide left.

Feehan broke through with 11:50 left in the half on a header by James Payne that sailed just over the reach of goalie Ben Wadleigh to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Payne scored after the Vineyarders failed to clear the ball in their own end.

With ten minutes left in the half, Jack Roberts just missed a shot over the top of the goal that would have tied the game. Following a defensive breakdown, Feehan took a 2-0 lead on a goal by Zach Pena.

With the sun going down and temperatures dropping in the second half, the Vineyarders were never able to mount a comeback and never really got the good looks at Feehan's goal like they did in the first half.

With the loss the Vineyarders fell to 5-3-4 overall and 3-2-2 in the EAC.

M.V. plays at Somerset-Berkley on Thursday and travels to Nantucket on Saturday.