Boys soccer: Red and White teams play to 3-3 tie in Division I; Division II/III game goes to Red, 5-2
EASTHAMPTON - When the best Division I high school boys soccer players in Western Massachusetts share the pitch in the annual Western Mass. Soccer Coaches Association Boys Senior All-Star Classic, the combined skillset is off the charts.
A shining example of that is East Longmeadow High School's Matt Langford. A defender by necessity and a striker by preference, Langford was one of the many standouts trying to impress the dozen-plus collegiate coaches in attendance.
Langford had the match's last memorable moment, as he completed a breathtaking run by lofting a shot past the goalie with 1:08 remaining, as his Red Team earned a 3-3 tie with the White Team at Williston Northampton School.
"We just put passes together, things worked out in our favor, and we tied the game," said Langford, who possesses an impressive mix of size and speed. "I thought we would win, but the tie, I'll take it."
Longmeadow's Matt Cotnoir put the White side ahead 3-2 about eight minutes into the second half, and that tally nearly stood up until Langford's equalizer. Cotnoir's shot deflected off a Red defender, creating a wicked topspin that handcuffed goalie Gabe Rudd of Amherst.
Two of the seven representatives from Division I state champion Ludlow combined for the White Team's first goal. Brandon McCarthy fed the ball to Shaun Mello, who chipped it high over the head of the defense, bouncing right behind the goalie and into the net.
Sci-Tech's Tyler Henry gave the White a 2-0 lead with about 12:30 left in the first half.
The Red Team dominated possession early on, usually starting with the playmaking of Hans Erickson, the All-New England choice from Amherst. Jason Burnusuz of Westfield finally broke through with about two minutes to go in the half, converting a nice service from West Springfield's Kevin Bengle.
Before showing he could finish, Langford's passing skills were on display for the Red's tying goal about 7:30 into the second half. He sent a pass diagonally across the box to Amherst's Tucker Bixby to even the score at 2-2.
Langford relished the chance to share the pitch with many of his high school rivals.
"The speed, everything, every ball is perfect," Langford said. "I love playing with these guys. It's like college almost."
Each team used a goalie in each half. The Red received extremely good outings from Agawam's Collin Ritter and Rudd, while the White was properly backstopped by Ludlow's Nick Zucco and Longmeadow's Seamus Kennedy.
Rudd tipped an excellent bid by Central's Nick Stahovish over the crossbar with about 17 minutes left in the match.
Division II/III
Red 5,White 2: South Hadley's Eddie Mercer had a hand in three of his team's five goals as the Red Team prevailed in the first match of the evening.
Mercer, an All-New England selection, tallied the first two markers for the Red and also assisted on a goal by Commerce's Shafiek Irwin that made the game 4-1. Josh Lynch of Ware and Dennis Vacon of Monson also found the back of the net.
Belchertown's Mark Greco put the White squad on the board after it fell behind 3-0. A chance for a second goal was denied when Red sweeper Nate Ghareeb cleared a shot off the goal line with about 4:30 remaining. However, Athol's Andy Doyle did earn that second goal about a minute later.
"It's just great to see all the guys I played throughout my four years of high school," Mercer said. "To play with some of them was just phenomenal."
In a tremendous show of sportsmanship, a White Team player stood over Erwin when he collapsed to the turf with an apparent cramp not long after his goal.
"It wasn't quite as intense as a playoff game, but it was more fun, and the skill level was still above playoff level," Mercer said.