By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — It was a heartbreaking loss for the North Reading High boys’ soccer team in the MIAA Division 3 state tournament as they were upset, 3-2, by visiting Boston Latin Academy in penalty kicks last Saturday afternoon in a first round game.
After regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods, the Dragons won the shootout 5-3.
“We knew that they were a good team,” said Hornets head coach Mark Bisognano. “They are well-coached and they are the Boston city champions for a reason.”
Things looked good for the locals at halftime as they led 2-0.
Their first goal came on a free kick by Matt Fleury from 23-yards out that went around the Dragons’ wall and found the left side of the net.
“It was a great shot,” said Bisognano.
Seven minutes later, Max Gulino made it 2-0 as his shot from the right side found the far inside post. Asher Schulz assisted.
The Dragons got on the scoreboard in the seventh minute of the second half as Yussef Oulalite chipped a shot from 18 yards out to make it 2-1.
Boston Latin then tied the game with just over four minutes left in regulation as Santiago Vanegas’ shot deflected off a Hornet defender into the net.
“We played not to lose in the second half,” admitted Bisognano. “We controlled the midfield in the first half but they turned it around in the second half.”
After the two 10-minute overtime sessions, the game went into the shootout.
The Dragons connected on all five of their attempts while the Hornets went 3 for 4. Gulino, Kieran Miller and Davi Leao were the three scorers in the penalty-kick session.
Leao made six saves in net to finish at 10-3-3.
North Reading had just four shots on goal.
With that defeat, the 13th-seeded Hornets ended up at 12-4-2. Meanwhile, 20th-seeded Boston Latin improved to 15-5 as they played host Pembroke in the Round of 16 game on Wednesday night (results not available at press time).
“It is a lousy way to get knocked out of the tournament but that is soccer,” said Bisognano about the shootout format.