Tim Rosenthal/Photo
By Tim Rosenthal, Staff Writer
NORTH EASTON, Mass. – One team was hampering from injuries, while the other extended its unbeaten streak to five.
By the end of Friday afternoon’s contest, the Oliver Ames boys’ soccer team improved to 4-0-1 with a 2-0 victory, while Foxboro showed a respectable effort, despite losing some players to injury, including junior goalkeeper Nick Adair.
“We have a lot of our JV guys up here who are developing,” said Foxboro coach Pat Nash, who saw his team fall to 0-3-1 on the young season. “Next week we should get a lot players back, so hopefully we can get back on track.”
The scoring chances for OA piled up from the get-go.
While the Tigers spent a good majority of the game down the Warrior end, they were only able to net a couple of goals. However, the ones that went in were good enough for head coach John Barata.
“We had many chances and we still have some things to work on, but I like what I’ve seen so far,” he said. “We can play quite well for the moment and as long as we stay healthy, I think we can be in pretty good shape.”
One player that stood out to Barata was junior midfielder David Stapleton, who had two assists on the afternoon.
Stapleton’s first assist came in the 36th minute when he fed Zack Wyman on a cross corner for the Tigers first goal. Midway through the second half, Stapleton added his second assist on a nifty feed to junior captain Lucas Aruajo in the 56th minute for his fifth assist on the 2012 season.
NORTH EASTON, Mass. – One team was hampering from injuries, while the other extended its unbeaten streak to five.
By the end of Friday afternoon’s contest, the Oliver Ames boys’ soccer team improved to 4-0-1 with a 2-0 victory, while Foxboro showed a respectable effort, despite losing some players to injury, including junior goalkeeper Nick Adair.
“We have a lot of our JV guys up here who are developing,” said Foxboro coach Pat Nash, who saw his team fall to 0-3-1 on the young season. “Next week we should get a lot players back, so hopefully we can get back on track.”
The scoring chances for OA piled up from the get-go.
While the Tigers spent a good majority of the game down the Warrior end, they were only able to net a couple of goals. However, the ones that went in were good enough for head coach John Barata.
“We had many chances and we still have some things to work on, but I like what I’ve seen so far,” he said. “We can play quite well for the moment and as long as we stay healthy, I think we can be in pretty good shape.”
One player that stood out to Barata was junior midfielder David Stapleton, who had two assists on the afternoon.
Stapleton’s first assist came in the 36th minute when he fed Zack Wyman on a cross corner for the Tigers first goal. Midway through the second half, Stapleton added his second assist on a nifty feed to junior captain Lucas Aruajo in the 56th minute for his fifth assist on the 2012 season.
Tim Rosenthal/Photo
“He was very unselfish today,” Barata said about Stapleton’s performance. “He’s playing a very creative role for us and he’s gifted and in my opinion he is one of the top players in the Hockomock League from what I’ve seen, so we are very lucky to have him.”
While senior goalkeeper David MacKinnon saw limited action, the Tiger D was up to the challenge. That might change next week, however, when the team faces Milford and Canton, who both could give OA a challenge for the Davenport Division title.
Barata, however, was pleased that his team wasn’t looking to far ahead to the week ahead.
“We haven’t talked about Milford or Canton at all until now,” Barata stated. “We focused on the task in hand today and now we can focus on Milford. I think if we stay focused that we can at least compete for the Davenport Division title and be one of the top teams in the Hock.”
Foxboro, still looking for its first victory of the fall, travels to Mansfield Wednesday before returning home to Stoughton – both games scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.
Despite the slow start, Nash is still optimistic that his team can get healthy and turn things around, especially after Friday’s respectable performance.
“We have some injuries to our squad but overall I’m pleased with how we’re progressing,” he said. “When our guys get healthy again, I think we’re going to be pretty good.”
While senior goalkeeper David MacKinnon saw limited action, the Tiger D was up to the challenge. That might change next week, however, when the team faces Milford and Canton, who both could give OA a challenge for the Davenport Division title.
Barata, however, was pleased that his team wasn’t looking to far ahead to the week ahead.
“We haven’t talked about Milford or Canton at all until now,” Barata stated. “We focused on the task in hand today and now we can focus on Milford. I think if we stay focused that we can at least compete for the Davenport Division title and be one of the top teams in the Hock.”
Foxboro, still looking for its first victory of the fall, travels to Mansfield Wednesday before returning home to Stoughton – both games scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.
Despite the slow start, Nash is still optimistic that his team can get healthy and turn things around, especially after Friday’s respectable performance.
“We have some injuries to our squad but overall I’m pleased with how we’re progressing,” he said. “When our guys get healthy again, I think we’re going to be pretty good.”
