Classical boys and Swampscott boys tie 3-3

LYNN – Before the game started, Classical had a record of 7-1-1, riding up at the top of the Northeastern Conference. Swampscott, on the other hand, had a record of 3-4 and was sitting in the middle of the pack in the NEC. However, the game resulted in a 3-3 tie between the Rams and Big Blue.Click here for a photo gallery.Both coaches were optimistic before the game. Joe Skahan, the Rams’ coach, said, “Our kids are ready. Last week was a good week for us. We are ready to play.”Mike Chase, the Big Blue coach, said, “Previously, we didn’t have enough firepower up front. We were playing with only two strikers. We pushed captain Kyle Taylor from midfield to striker, and this changed our attack and we are doing better. There is now more pressure on our deep backs to pick up and cover.”The game went from end line to end line with super individual moves, great passing and many outstanding acrobatic saves by both keepers, Dammy Dada for Classical, and D.J. Marquis for Swampscott.Classical opened the scoring in the eighth minute. Sophomore striker Kevine Kakou crossed the ball from the left wing through the top of the area to Dennis Husidic, who hit the far post with his shot, which bounced into the net for a 1-0 Rams lead.The Castro brothers, Miguel and Salvador, teamed up five minutes later at the 13th minute to push the score to 2-0. Salvador Castro put a beautiful through ball to brother Miguel going into the left side of the area. One dribble, one shot, one goal. He beat the keeper to the short side. There was just enough room for the ball to squeeze into the net.Three minutes later, Miguel Castro picked up his 18th goal of the season. Kakou fed Castro the ball on the right goal line. He dribbled along the line and bounced the ball off a defender into the net. Classical was now on top 3-0. It looked like a rout was in progress, but the Big Blue never quit. They continued to attack.In the 29th minute, the Big Blue finally got on the scoreboard. Two of the three captains teamed up for the score. Striker Rocky Nenshati picked up a through pass going down the right wing, pushed deep into the corner, and crossed the ball in front of the retreating Classical defenders to Taylor, the secret ingredient in Chase’s new setup. He caught Dada moving from right to left and Taylor put the ball behind him in the low left corner. This cut the lead to 3-1.Three minutes before halftime, the referee called a holding foul on Classical in the area and a penalty shot was awarded. Taylor scored his second goal of the game as he beat the Classical keeper to the right side. The score now closed to 3-2, Classical. The half ended with no further action.In the second half, the Big Blue continued their relentless attack on the Rams. It paid off in the 52nd minute, when freshman Adnan Dzino took a free kick from midfield and put it over the Classical defenders. Nenshati beat them to the ball, came in alone on the keeper, went left and shot right, scored, and tied the game at 3-3.In the next 15 minutes, Swampscott had at least four more breakaways, but Dada was able to beat the onrushing strikers to the ball and clear it out. On most of these plays, he came 15 to 20 yards outside his area. With six minutes to go, this move backfired on the Rams. Nenshati had another breakaway on a long through ball. This time, though, the striker got to the ball first. As the keeper slid, the striker pushed the ball past the keeper. The keeper missed the ball but took down the striker. This resulted in a red card on the keeper, but no penalty shot as the action took place outside the area. The keeper was ejected and no substitute is allowed.Classical had to play with 10 players. Senior defender Michael Duggan put on the goalie shirt and gloves and finished the game with two saves. The game ended with no further scoring.Skahan was disappointed and said, “It was a battle of two different halves, one with the wind and sun, and the other the opposite.”Classical is now 7-1-2.Chase s