Soccer teams compete in MIAA state tournaments

Boys fall to Lowell

There are tough ways to lose a soccer game….and then there are even tougher ways, especially if it happens to you in the state tournament.

The Revere High boys soccer team experienced the latter with a 2-1 loss in overtime to Lowell Saturday in the preliminary round of the MIAA Division 1 North Sectional.

“It was a real heartbreaker,” said RHS head coach Nik Tower, whose Patriots held a 1-0 for almost the entire game until Lowell scored the equalizer with about five minutes left in regulation.

Revere’s tally came from senior Leo Giraldo, who outhustled the Lowell goalie to beat him to the ball and then put it into the back of the Lowell net.

“We played very well the entire game and did a good job at shutting down their top players,” said Tower. “It was just one of those games where the bounces didn’t go our way.”

However, Tower remained upbeat about his Patriots’ superlative season, which saw them go 10-4-4 to earn a 15th seed in the North bracket. (Lowell was seeded 18th with a 7-5-4 mark.)

“We really came together as a team this year,” said the coach. “This was a great year for our program and something we can build upon for next year.”

Four Patriots received post season mention. Giraldo, Andres Herrera, Luis Alcantar, and Diego Mancia were named to the Northeastern Conference all star team, with Herrera also being selected for the Eastern Mass. All star squad.

Girls downed by FHS

Although the Revere High girls soccer team, which qualified for the state tournament for the first time in more than 15 years, dropped its opening round contest to a powerful Framingham team Saturday, RHS head coach Natalie Lyons said the defeat did not put a damper on her team’s fine season.

“I am very proud of what this team has accomplished,” said Lyons, whose squad was seeded 18th in the North Sectional bracket with an 8-8-4 mark. “The girls worked very hard and we had a great season. Framingham is a very strong team and the girls gave it their all.”

Lyons said that though Framingham (the number 15 seed in the tourney with a 9-6-1 record ) was not in the same class as Peabody, the Northeastern Conference champion and top seed in the North Sectional bracket with a 16-1-1 record, Framingham was as tough an opponent as any other rival whom her team played in the NEC.

Revere’s lone score came from Marissa Parent, who drilled home a penalty kick late in the second half.

A number of Lady Patriots received post season accolades, led by keeper Melissa Adreani, who not only was named an NEC all star, but also was named an Eastern Mass. all star for the second year in a row.

“Melissa had another great year for us in the net,” said Lyons. “She was consistent game in and game out.

Joining Adreani on the NEC all star squad are teammates Parent, Samara Neves, and Venous Hamza.