2-1 loss to Milton sees Melrose’s playoff run end
By CORY THOMAS
MILTON—The Melrose High boy’s varsity soccer team traveled to Milton to take on the Wildcats in a Division 3 state tournament first round game on Monday, November 3. It was a tense, spirited and well-played game by both sides, and unfortunately for Melrose, Milton survived and advanced in overtime to defeat Melrose, 2-1, in a game that could have gone either way.
Melrose started out applying pressure on Milton early as a light drizzle began to fall. Reon Anderson and Ali Abidi were hustling all over the offensive zone, creating opportunities. On defense, Gavin Barsoti had several nice defensive break ups early. Josh Bird headed away a Milton offensive chance in the early stages of the first half. Pat Buggy, Reon Anderson and Ali Abidi kept up the pressure for the Melrose offense. With twelve minutes gone off the clock in the first half, Reon Anderson laid a perfect pass to a streaking Sirak Araia down the right side of the field. Araia was in alone on the Milton goalkeeper and Araia beat him cleanly with a wicked strike to set off a Melrose celebration in the corner of the field as they led 1-0 over favored Milton.
Luke Broduer and Malek Saleyagh were playing heady defense for Melrose as Milton, now trailing, stepped up their attack. All season long, one of the team’s best defenders has been goalkeeper Owen Brown who made a strong diving save to keep Melrose ahead, 1-0, in the first half. Brown had another brilliant save as the first half neared an end. Aidan Murphy and Henry Rahilly played strong on both sides for Melrose. A Milton corner chance was punched away by Owen Brown while Gavin Barsoti was all over the field for Melrose.
Late in the first half with Milton pressuring, Brown made a save on a Milton shot and the rebound was controlled by Milton and sent towards the Melrose goal. Unfortunately, a Melrose player was given a red card on a save and the team played shorthanded for the remainder of the game.
Milton was awarded a penalty kick because of the infraction. A cool Owen Brown stepped to his goal line focused on the Milton penalty kicker who eyed the right back corner of the Melrose net. But Brown with cat-like reflexes beat him to the spot and made a spectacular save of the penalty kick. The two teams trotted off the field for half time with Melrose holding a 1-0 lead and all the momentum.
However, the second half would be a challenging one for Melrose, but they were rallying around each other and Brown in goal. Ten minutes into the second half Brown had another great save, but on the same possession, Milton was able to apply enough pressure to level the score at 1. Now tied, and still down a player, Melrose tried to counter the Milton attack valiantly behind Patrick Buggy, who made a nice pass to Sirak Aria, who got off a quality shot on the Milton goal, but it was saved. Reon Anderson continued to show skill and hustle and Aidan Murphy was strong for Melrose on offense and defense. Senior Josh Bird was there to help out Owen Brown on the goal line for Melrose.
The score remained tied with 12:20 to go and Owen Brown made another game-saving stop.
The teams ended up tied at the end of regulation and went on to overtime, where Milton, still playing with a man advantage scored five minutes into overtime to win it on a golden goal to advance in the state tournament.