Sports
By Don Lyons - November 9, 2006
Ben Post was in the middle of much of the action. Photos by Ralph Stewart
Kickers get by Dedham, but fall to Hingham
The top-seeded Vineyard boys soccer team advanced to the quarter-finals by defeating a tough Dedham team on a wind-blown, cold Dan McCarthy field, Sunday.
It wasn't easy. The Marauders' physical style took the Islanders out of their finesse one-touch passing game.
The Vineyard jumped off to an early lead as Ben Post beat the Dedham goalie with the game not yet a minute old. Fourteen minutes later Havlv Tavares scored the first of his two goals, tying the score. After another 14 minutes Davey Campbell restored the MV lead by burying a penalty kick. M.V. led at the half, 2-1.
The scoreboard showed the Vineyard ahead, but the play on the field was mostly in the Vineyard end of the field with keeper Nico Cuba making timely saves, some of which required skillful dexterity. Twenty-three minutes into the period a Dedham blast caromed off the upright. With six minutes left, Tavares's second goal evened the count.
The teams played two 10-minute OT periods without producing a tie-breaking point, requiring a shoot-out.
Nico Cuba blocked the Dedham's fifth and final shot, nailing the win for the Vineyard.
The Vineyard's Torbelly Assis took the first shot, which sailed harmlessly over the net. Dedham's first shot was wide right. 0-0.
Nico Cuba kicked the ball into the lower right corner.
Dedham's Phil Weltman found the upper right, 1-1.
Adam Herman found the left corner. The Marauders' Costa matched Adam's shot with one to the left of keeper Cuba who managed to reach it, touch it, but could not stop it. 2-2.
Jeff Taylor's attempt went wide to the right. Gil Weltman's ball missed the left side of the net.
Davey Campbell blasted the ball into the left corner. Cuba blocked the final Dedham shot and the Vineyard claimed the shoot-out tie-breaker, 3-2.
Post, Cuba, and Campbell had outstanding games.
This shot by Antulio Neto bounced off the goal post, a near miss.
Déjà vu all over again
Hingham, 2-1 conquerors of Oliver Ames, came to call, Tuesday.
Last year the Harbormen of Hingham knocked the Vineyard out of the MIAA tourney in a close quarterfinal game, and they did it again Tuesday under the lights at Dan McCarthy field.
This year's game was even closer. For the second time in two days, after 80 minutes of virtually non-stop action the score was tied, 1-1. Ben Post posted the game's first score jumping on a rebound off a shot on goal by Antulio Neto. Two minutes later, Hingham responded, Brett Canepa doing the honors.
Midway through the second half, Ben Post left the game with a separated shoulder, not to return. He was missed.
The score remained locked at 1-1 to the end of regulation and two 10 minute overtime periods.
The game would be decided by a shoot out even as it had been on Sunday.
Kelly Fredrico of Hingham was first up and made no mistake. Torbelly Assis' shot caught the upper left corner and it was 1-1.
Joe Eisenbies' kick was good to keeper Nico Cuba's right. Cuba took the second shot for MV but it was blocked by Hingham goalie, Oliver Alderman.
Charles Eisenbies filled the net and upped the Harbormen's advantage to 3-1. Adam Herman's kick into the left corner narrowed the margin.
Captain Brian Holmes nade it 4-2. Davey Campbell's attempt went wide right and the shootout stopped. The game and season were over.
It was a great ride and the school and Island should be proud of the team's accomplishments. The full, and sometimes raucous, grandstand probably was witness to the fact that they are.
