St. John’s wins Division 1 North crown

LYNN – The St. John?s Prep soccer team had walked out of Manning Field the last two seasons as losers to Somerville in the Division 1 North final. On a frigid Saturday evening, the Eagles made good on their third shot to snare a sectional crown.
But it was by no means easy as No. 7 seed Acton-Boxboro gave the fourth seed Prep all it could want and more as the team?s played through 100 minutes of scoreless soccer before the Eagles buried four of five PK?s in a shootout to take a 1-0 victory and the North title.
St. John?s, who is now 18-1-3, will play South sectional champion Needham tomorrow night (7) back at Manning for a trip to Saturday?s Division 1 state championship game at WPI.
?I have to give credit to Acton-Boxboro. They came out and played some quality soccer,” St. John?s coach Dave Crowell said. “Our keeper, Zach Rowell, was phenomenal.
I?d be lying if I didn?t say that he was the difference in the match. He was great,” Crowell said.
Rowell indeed proved to be the difference as his 12 saves, including two of five in the shootout, kept the Eagles going as A-B (16-3-3) dominated the play for long stretches in the second half.
His right foot save on Colonials striker Evan Kamenski with 18:30 left had even Crowell taking notice.
?That stop that he made with his foot was spectacular,” Crowell said.
?Both of us had plenty of opportunities and just couldn?t convert.”
After being outplayed for most of the final 40 minutes, the Eagles had a chance to win the game in the final minute of regulation but Paul Magazzu sent his shot over the net and the game would head to overtime.
Given new life, the Eagles came out and would control the play for both of the 10 minute sudden death periods but neither team could get one home and PK?s would be needed.
The teams would both convert on their first two rounds of shots before each missed on their third attempt. Adam Waks then hit the post for the Colonials to being the fourth round before Aidan Robinson roofed his shot to give the Eagles a 3-2 lead.
Brett Rutyna kept the Colonials alive when he beat Rowell to tie it at 3-3.
But Stephen Heintz stepped to the spot and drilled his shot into the top right corner to spark a wild celebration for the Eagles.
?PK?s are a tough way to end it win or lose,” Crowell said.
The finish was in stark contrast to the way that the game began as neither team could gain much of a territorial edge in the first half.
It wasn?t for lack of chances, though, as both teams put two shots on goal but also missed on several chances as the game went to the half scoreless.
The Colonials came out of the gates blazing to start the second half, putting serious pressure on Rowell and the Eagles for the first time.
Steve DeLeo just missed on a shot in the opening moments before Rowell absolutely robbed Claypool from point blank range, leaving the A-B midfielder shaking his head in disbelief.
The Eagles nearly took the lead with 25:00 left but Matt Gianetta?s bid was stopped by a diving Marshall Grant for A-B. The hammer and tong battle would continue as time ran down with Rowell finishing the second half with seven saves.
At the other end, the Eagles nearly won it twice in the final five minutes but Grant was able to punch away a corner kick just before Magazzu?s miss in the final minute.