BILLERICA — Billerica’s boys soccer program has established itself as one of many state’s elite, and its current success is considerably newfound.
“We can score goals,” stated Billerica soccer coach John Vassallo. “So that helps. We’ve got some guys that we moved around, couple guys that played midfield last year that are playing central defense this year, and we have a goalie who’s a junior and is coming into his own. He has been tremendous also.”
Last fall, the Indians reached the Div. 2 playoff discipline because the No. 11 seed with a document of 11-2-5, solely to be bounced within the Round of 32 (a 2-1 loss to Nauset).
“It really helped motivate us, the loss last year,” stated Vassallo. “Because we had a home game, so we thought we were going to be able to go a little bit further than we did. But reality kicked in, finding a program like Nauset who has always been really good. They knew how to win in the playoffs, and we didn’t. These guys dedicated themselves for the summer, and said our goal is to win the league, then get a good draw for the tournament, get further than the first round. We want to win a few games in the tournament, and I think our ranking will help that. The loss definitely motivated us (the last) year.”
Now Billerica has a agency grasp on the highest total seed on this 12 months’s Div. 2 energy rankings at 16-1-1, with a workforce ranking of three.2322.
The exhibiting is because of emergence of stars similar to senior midfielder and reigning Merrimack Valley Conference (Small) Player of the Year Brian Jones (10 targets, six assists), and different standouts similar to junior forwards Jason Xintaropoulos (12 targets, 9 assists in-league play), Ryan Jacob (25 targets, 10 assists), and goaltender Riley Donovan (seven targets surrendered, 6.5 shutouts).
The Indians have discovered a profitable system, and it begins with their core group.
“Last year in the playoffs, we were hoping we’d make it further,” stated Jones. “When we lost to Nauset in the first round, it wasn’t what we were hoping for. Then this year, we won our first game. Our second game, we lost, and that kind of flipped the switch for us. We kind of realized how everything is supposed to be picked up, and ever since then, we haven’t lost a game.”
Billerica has dominated its Merrimack Valley Conference video games, with spectacular victories over North Andover (a 3-0 win Oct. 12) and Lowell (1-0 Oct. 17).
“It’s definitely good to keep track of (the seedings), know where you are according to everything else,” Jones stated. “But we can’t let it get to our heads. Just because we’re the one-seed, it doesn’t mean we can’t have our best game. But you can see it, every other team wants to beat us since we’re so highly-ranked.”
The workforce’s lone loss was a 3-0 defeat to Bedford in early September, which sits second amongst Div. 2 colleges within the energy rankings at 9-2-4 with a workforce ranking of three.0843. Vassallo believes that his group has grown from that recreation. A rematch with the Buccaneers is feasible.
“I hope (for a second battle) anyways,” chuckled Vassallo. “They actually gave us a good eye-opener, where it was our second game of the season, so we were trying to figure out our defense. They were much more mature than us playing-wise. My group was young and inexperienced at that level, so it was actually a good game for us, where we learned a lot about how to play defense, and how to get going. It motivated us, because every once in a while, one of the kids will bring up the Bedford game.”
When the pairings are unveiled Nov. 1, Billerica can be prepared for whichever opponent comes its approach.
“We need some rest, because we have some injuries and we’re a little bit tired,” Vassallo stated. “I think the seniors and the captains have to step up, and say this is where we worked so hard — to get here. I think it’s about seeing if we can keep it going.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com