The Peabody boys soccer team closed out its shortened 2020 season on a high note, notching a 3-1 win over Northeastern Conference foe Marblehead Friday night at Coley Lee Field.
“We played well out there, and it’s always nice to end the season with a win,” said Peabody coach Stan McKeen.
Kyle Joyce led the way for Peabody with two goals in the victory, while Kyle Lobao scored one goal. Victor Maciel had two assists, while Nick Sablone had one assist.
For Marblehead, Camden Heafitz was the lone goal scorer in the loss. Jacob Sherf, Isaiah Pina, Padraig Bresnahan and Baxter Jennings also played well for Marblehead.
“The game was much more competitive than the score shows, and I’m really proud of how we played,” said Marblehead coach Elmer Magana. “This was our fourth game this week and the guys gave whatever they had left in the tank.”
After a scoreless tie for most of the first half, Peabody finally got on the board when Lobao cleaned up a loose ball in front of the Marblehead net with just over six minutes to play in the second quarter to make it 1-0. The Tanners took that lead into the halftime break.
In the third quarter, the Tanners added another when Maciel sent a long pass up the field to set Joyce up for a breakaway goal. Joyce kept the defender on his hip and slipped a nifty shot past the Marblehead goalkeeper to make it 2-0 with about eight minutes left in the third.
The Tanners rounded out their scoring at the end of the third quarter, when Maciel once again sent a long pass up the field to Joyce, who was streaking up the left side. Joyce got in all alone and buried a shot under the keeper’s arm to make it 3-0.
Marblehead added one goal late in the fourth quarter when Heafitz lofted a shot over the Peabody keeper’s head from about 30 yards out.
Marblehead closes out the season at 2-5.
“It was a challenging season, but our guys made the best of it,” said Magana. “My assistant coach Tom Roundy and I are honored to have coached a true band of brothers who will have happy memories to tell their kids and grandkids, regardless of COVID-19.”
Peabody wraps up its year at 6-1-1.
“It was a good season considering all the circumstances,” said McKeen. “The guys really had to adapt to the new rules and the new style of play, and I think they did a great job of that.”
BOYS SOCCER
Gloucester 4, Saugus 2
Saugus got one goal each from Juan Oliveira and Kye McLaughlin in the loss Friday night.
