Berwick Loses to Rival Pingree

The Berwick Academy Boys Varsity soccer team lost 4-1 against EIL rival Pingree School on Thursday afternoon in South Hamilton, MA.  The Bulldogs struggled from the opening kickoff, unable to mount much offense over the course of the day.  As a result, the defensive corps was again put to the test as the Highlanders carried the play for the bulk of the game.  Berwick goalie Blaine Farrell had a busy day from the opening minute, and was tested repeatedly in both halves.  Pingree broke through in the 25^th minute when Harvey Copeland went deep into the left side of the penalty box and fed Matthew Gubbins for the first tally of the day.  Five minutes later, Nathaniel Johnson hit a long drive for Pingree that deflected off a Berwick defender over Farrell’s outstretched hands and into the net.

 

Looking to shift the flow of the game after the halftime huddle, the Bulldogs came out stronger in the second frame and managed some forays deeper into the Highlander defensive third of the pitch.  Carrying the most sustained offense of their day to that point, Berwick managed to string together some passes and put Pingree momentarily on their heels.    Striker Nate McCrone hustled to disrupt the Highlander backfield in an effort to generate some chances.  Pingree effectively put the game out of reach, however, seven minutes into the second half when captain Mathew-Jacob Finbury launched a long throw-in into the box, which was plowed into the net by Lucas Filosa.    The Highlanders rounded out their scoring in the 68^th minute when Corey McGunn rifled a long drive off the left post and into the back of the net.

 

Berwick picked up its play in the final fifteen minutes, though it was certainly too little too late.  Some late substitutions energized the team as Chad Thut barely missed two good chances that sent Pingree goalie Samuel Consitt scrambling to make his only difficult saves of the day.  Outside defender Sam Twombly also brought intensity to the pitch, drawing a tough marking assignment on the right flank.  Captain Will Grant left his heart and more out on the muddy field, leading the young squad with sustained effort from the opening whistle to the final one. 

 

With under five minutes remaining, the Bulldogs managed to avoid the shutout when Brendan Tribastone led a long run from midfield to 25 yards out, and steered McCrone on a rare foray into Pingree’s box.   McCrone sent a nice shot on Consitt, who made the initial save.  Byron Welch was there to clean up the rebound to avoid giving the home team a blank sheet.  That lone goal was only a matter of pride at that point, as the Bulldogs wound up swept on the season by their rivals to the south.

 

Berwick is 1-7-1 on the season and has a long weekend away from the field.  The Bulldogs will take on Lakes Region powerhouse Proctor at home on Wednesday, followed by EIL opponent Landmark on Friday.