By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
MATTAPOISETT — Last Saturday evening, the North Reading High boys’ soccer team traveled to Mattapoisett to take on host Old Rochester in the MIAA Division 3 Round of 16.
In a nip-and-tuck contest, the Bulldogs were able to pull out a 2-1 win to end the Hornets’ season.
With the loss, the 10th-seeded Hornets end the year at 15-3-2. Meanwhile, the 7th-seeded Bulldogs improved to 13-6-2 as they played Norwell on Nov. 12 in the quarterfinals (result not available at press time).
“It was very wide open in the first half and back-and-fourth in the second half,” said Hornets head coach Mark Bisognano. “They have a very strong team and we knew that coming in.”
Grady Oliveria was the hero for the Bulldogs scoring both goals.
His first tally came in the 10th minute with a nice finish that found the top corer of the Hornet net.
North Reading tied the game in the 21st minute when Gavin Wesley scored assisted by Asher Schulz. That goal came off a corner kick.
Oliveria scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 31st minute as there was no scoring in the second half.
“He is an outstanding player,” stated Bisognano about the junior striker. “He is fast and strong. We did do a good job slowing him down in the second half.”
The Hornets put some pressure on the Bulldog defense in the final 15 minutes but the hosts were able to hold on.
“They blocked a lot of shots in the final 15 minutes,” said Bisognano. “They are a team that likes to run and gun and we were able to slow it down in the second half.”
Hornet goalkeeper, Dylan O’Driscoll, made three saves while the North Reading offense had just three shots on net.
In the Round of 16 on Nov. 5, the Hornets beat Dedham, 2-1, in double-overtime at home.
Davi Leao was the hero, scoring the game-winning goal with 3:44 left in the second overtime session to avoid going to a shootout.
Joe Serra had the assist as Leao headed in a corner kick to set off a wild celebration as the team stormed the field.
Leao assisted on the first goal of the night as Seth Evans scored in the 11th-minute.
That lead lasted until there was just under four minutes remaining in the game as the Marauders tied it up on a 25-yard one-timer from Sam MacDougall.
O’Driscoll made six stops in that win.
“He had two really good ones including one in the first overtime session,” said Bisognano.
With the loss, the 23rd-seeded Marauders ended the year at 6-11-2.
“That Tri-Valley League they play in is excellent and we knew that they were much better than their record shows,” said Bisognano. “They have a good program.”