Lenox finally scores on Gateway
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WESTFIELD - After approximately 550 shutout minutes, the Gateway Regional boys soccer team finally gave up a goal in the Western Massachusetts Division 3 Tournament championship game on Sunday.
The Gators never recovered, falling 3-0 to Lenox at Westfield State College.
"Man-for-man, they were more skilled than we were and they used it more effectively," Gateway coach Tim Gamble said. "They attacked when they had numbers and we didn't defend as well as we have been. We haven't given up three goals in a game since our first game of the season (against Division 2 champion Palmer). Our defense wasn't what it usually is."
Tenth-seeded Lenox (10-8-4) became the first team to score on Gateway in three weeks when Nico Brattke sent the ball to Chris Considine 20 yards out on the right post. Considine settled the ball and blasted a hard, low shot to the opposite post for a 1-0 lead with 17 minutes, 51 seconds left in the first half.
"We knew they were not a 10 seed. They could be the one seed," Gamble said. "We knew what we were going to be up against. Their independent schedule (including Division 1 finalists Ludlow and Minnechaug) lends itself to them peaking at the end of the year."
The Millionaires doubled their lead in the second half when Brad Siegars' cross from the right side found the head of Peter Vahle on the left post with 35:24 left in the contest.
Considine then made it 3-0 11 minutes later. Gateway had a corner attempt, but Lenox quickly cleared it and both Gator defenders got tripped up battling for the ball with Considine. Considine stayed on his feet and dashed toward the Gators' goal, getting the shot off just as goalkeeper Gabe Craig (seven saves) came out to make a dive at the ball, which rolled into the wide-open net.
"It was definitely a surprise. We haven't had to play from behind virtually all season," junior midfielder and cocaptain Sam Cummings said. "The loss of senior sweeper Tyler Main (injured during the semifinal game against Smith Academy) hurt."
Lenox advanced to the state semifinals where it will play the central Massachusetts champion at a time and place to be determined.
The Millionaires last won the Division 3 tournament in 2005, but were the runner-up in each of the last two seasons, losing to Easthampton in 2007 and Monson in 2008. Both the Eagles and Mustangs are now in Division 2.
No. 4 Gateway (12-3-4) played in its first final since losing to Monson 1-0 in 2006.
The loss marked the final high school game for Gators seniors Joe Simonowicz, Korey Whitaker, Josh Stebbins, Josiah Cooke, Tyler Main and Marra.
"We've got six seniors that have been good leaders on the team," Gamble said. The returning players "know what they have to achieve now. You have to be good on both sides of the ball. You have to be physical and you have to be smart.
"The big thing is that they saw a smarter team and a more tactically sound team tonight," he added. "They really took them to task. The kids who are juniors and sophomores recognize that. They are looking at that and realize that that's how they need to be if we want to be first place next year."
Gateway had a chance to take control early when David Marra found space 12 yards out in front of the Lenox goal and hit the crossbar with 32:40 remaining in the then-scoreless contest.
"It changes a little bit if we get an early goal and we certainly had a good chance, but one wasn't going to be enough today," Gamble said. "Not against this team."
When Considine scored in the first half, it was the first time Gateway had allowed a goal since a 1-1 tie with Pioneer Regional on Oct. 22.
Since that game, the Gators finished the regular season with shutouts of St. Joseph, Hopkins Academy, Holyoke Catholic and Pioneer. The game against the Panthers was the only tie.
In the postseason, Gateway blanked Hopkins 2-0 in the quarterfinals - thanks to a tremendous performance by Craig in goal - and then outlasted Smith Academy in the semifinals with a 1-0 victory in double overtime.
"All season, our defense has been stupendous," Cummings said. "The effort put forward by our forwards to put us on the board early and let us play with a lead was big for us. That's why we got here."
Jim Pignatiello can be reached at jpignatiello@gazettenet.com.
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