The third meeting of the Martha’s Vineyard high school boys soccer team with Bishop Feehan proved to be one too many as the visiting Shamrocks handed the Vineyarders a stinging 3-1 defeat in the opening round of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Division Two state tournament, Sunday afternoon, at Dan McCarthy Field.
The Shamrocks went up 3-0 before the Islanders scored their first and only goal in the closing minutes of the final period. The Shamrocks’ first goal was scored just four and a half minutes into the contest.
The Shamrocks had obviously studied their earlier meetings with the Islanders, the first resulting in a 2-2 tie here and then losing to the Vineyard, 4-2, in Attleboro, just five days ago.
Again and again, Feehan correctly predicted the route the Vineyard offense would take on its its way to the Shamrock “box.” Feehan also assigned a player to shadow EAC high scorer Jack Roberts to prevent him from keying the MV offense, much less scoring.
The first half was especially one-sided as MV goalie Rafael Maciel was called upon to make a dozen saves.
The score at the half was 2-0.
Jackson McBride replaced Maciel in goal for the second half and gave up one goal.
The Vineyarders played a more controlled game in the second half, but could not score against the Shamrocks until late in the second period.
With a 10-4-2 record, the Vineyarders were seeded seventh in Division 2 by the MIAA. They were the only Vineyard team to place first in the EAC and the only MV team to qualify for the MIAA post-season playoffs. At 9-6-3, Feehan was second in the EAC and received a tenth seed.
