LYNN — Wednesday night’s girls soccer game between Classical and Revere was one the Rams would like to have back.
Despite plenty of opportunities in the attack and a stout defensive performance, a 2-goal rally within 90 seconds was all Revere needed for a 2-0 win at Manning Field.
Carolina Carvalho Bettero and Nahomy Galvez Martinez each netted a goal as the Patriots (14-0-2) kept their undefeated season intact.
“These girls have played as a family, they’ve played together and they work really well,” Revere coach Megan O’Donnell said. “It’s good team chemistry. They’ve bonded really well. They’re keeping their heads up and staying positive. That’s one thing this team has taken from the past- working together and staying positive.”
For the Rams, it was a game of missed opportunities.
“Revere had three shots on net and they capitalized on two,” Classical coach Mike Schena said. “The stats show we had 15 shots. Possession was in our favor. We played soccer, we just couldn’t finish. I thought we played a great game of soccer against an undefeated team. We had seven corner kicks, 15 shots and they didn’t get a shot on us in the second half. I’m proud of our girls.”
Defense was Classical’s strongpoint of the night.
“Our defense played exceptionally well,” Schena said. “Our defense stepped up. It was controlled soccer. We played a controlled game. Mary Collins, Eliza Correnti and Ava Thurman played exceptionally well.”
Things were about as even as they could be through the opening minutes of the first half. Classical’s defense held tight in hopes that the offense could make the most of its openings. Instead, it was Revere that cashed in on its chances.
With 18:45 to go in the half, a miscommunication error committed by the Rams allowed Revere to grab a 1-0 lead on Galvez-Martinez’s goal.
And it only took the Patriots 90 seconds to boost their lead. With goalie Anna Flaherty out of her post, Carvalho-Bettero lifted a shot into the back of the net to put Revere up 2-0.
Classical’s defense bounced back for the rest of the half but the Rams carried the 2-0 deficit at recess.
“We hadn’t seen Revere all year,” Schena said. “When you haven’t seen a team all year you have to make adjustments. Their striker (Carvalho Bettero), we had to figure out a way to cover her. We switched things up to put a little more speed on her. Aside from that, I thought the adjustments worked out great. We executed everything perfectly, we just couldn’t finish.”
Refusing to quit, the Rams ramped up their attack in the second half. But Patriots goalie Camia Perez made the necessary key saves in the period to preserve the 2-0 shutout win.
“(Perez) is a junior captain,” O’Donnell said. “She’s great. She makes saves like that every game for us. She’s been playing fantastic. This has really been her year. She’s guided us into the state tournament.
“Classical’s a great team,” O’Donnell said. “They’re physical, they’re tough. It was a great battle between both teams. It could have gone either way.”
Revere hopes to improve its postseason seeding with wins over Haverhill (Friday) and Lowell (next Tuesday).
Classical closes the season Friday (7), when the Rams travel to Saugus.
“We lost 1-0 to Saugus earlier this season with seven of our starters out,” Schena said. “Saugus will come ready to play. It’s a game under the lights, it’s their Senior Night. Their girls will come ready to play. We’re going to do the same. I’m looking forward to it.”
