REVERE — The Revere boys soccer team finished the season in style Wednesday, beating Lynn English 3-0 to capture the Greater Boston League title on its home turf at Harry Della Russo Stadium.
The Patriots end the year at 9-1.
“They worked hard,” Revere coach Manuel Lopes said of his team. “We took a hit in the second game of the season against Somerville and we’ve been building since that game. I have two or three seniors that were freshmen with me four years ago. It was nice to see them come in through the program and exit this way. It’s been a great season for us.”
Diego Salcedo led the way with a pair of goals for the Patriots. Estiven Vasco also added a goal, while Revere dominated the midfield to secure the win.
“We have the fortune of being fast and having skill,” Lopes said. “Playing soccer, that’s what makes you the most dangerous. We’re dangerous at every position. That’s what made us what we are (Wednesday).”
Despite the loss, English had a good game in net from junior Jack Mancaniello. The loss still stings, but this GBL playoff run was a huge turnaround for the Bulldogs.
“We have a very resilient group,” English coach Kerry King said. “We’ve improved so much. If you asked me in the beginning of the season if we’d be in the GBL Final, I would’ve thought you were crazy. We gave it everything we had against a very talented Revere team.”
Revere brought the pressure early on, but English hung on thanks to Mancaniello, who made a pair of great saves on point-blank shots from Vasco and Michael Maldonado to keep the game scoreless.
But before long, Revere broke through and Vasco scored on a breakaway to put the Patriots up 1-0.
English responded with some nice chances on a free kick from Ryan Lima and a following corner kick, but couldn’t capitalize.
Before long, Salcedo broke through again for Revere and scored on another breakaway to stretch the lead to 2-0 before the half.
“We knew going in they were good in the midfield,” King said. “We were trying to bypass that a little bit, but unfortunately they controlled that part of the field.”
Lima started the second half with another chance for English, but Jose Vejar was there to make the stop for Revere.
Vejar made a few more nice saves to keep the lead at two and Revere continued to dominate the midfield in the second half.
Salcedo found the back of the net again with just over 16 minutes to play and Revere cruised to the 3-0 win.
The Patriots send off 13 seniors and hope this year’s GBL success will translate into a state tournament run in the fall.
English ends the year at 4-4-1 and graduates 11 seniors.
