Classical boys end season with a win over English, 2-1

LYNN – This game was window dressing for the Classical boys soccer team.The Rams are already in the tourney and cannot move up or down in the NEC. They are ensconced in second place behind Peabody and are prepping for the states. They have dropped down from D1 to D2. As far as English was concerned, everything was riding on Thursday’s game. The Bulldogs needed two wins in their last two games to qualify.Before the game, Rams coach Joe Skahan said, “We just want to play a clean game, no injuries and no cards. The states start in a week and we want to be ready.”Kerry King, the English coach, was encouraging his players to relax and play their game.Classical emerged with a 2-1 win over English at Manning Field.Click here for a photo gallery.In the first half, English had chances, with three breakaways that Classical keeper Dammy Dada stopped, one with an incredible kick save. The key to the Classical defense, besides the keeper, was the sweeper, junior Greg Rybak. At the other end was the same situation, with keeper Daniel Cordoba and the defense, led by Eric Bransfield, which kept the Ram sharpshooters off the scoreboard. The half ended with the score 0-0.The entire game – and English’s season – was wrapped up in the last eight minutes of play.In the 72nd minute, English had a corner kick that freshman Leonel Awokang headed into the net off a Classical defender. The ball was going to the keeper when it hit a Ram defender and veered into the net. This made the score 1-0, English. This was the third meeting of these two teams with Classical winning both of the earlier games by one goal. The Bulldogs looked like they were on their way.Three minutes later, the Bulldogs’ joy turned to anguish as Miguel Castro took a long feed from Guy Guillame and kicked a chip shot over the onrushing Bulldog keeper to make the score 1-1.English pushed everyone up because it had to score in the last five minutes. In the 79th minute, Castro and Guillame changed places, with Castro feeding Guillame with a cross that he put in the top right corner. This made the score 2-1, Classical. That was the game.English has one more game with Swampscott while Classical sits and waits for the pairings that should be out next Thursday with the tourney starting next weekend.At this point, the only Lynn teams that have made the states are the Classical boys team and the Tech boys team. The St. Mary’s boys team has an outside shot to make it. The Spartans have not finished their season due to makeups.