Charlie Breitrose
Watertown High School boys soccer players hold the North Section championship trophy up after defeating Melrose on Sunday.
{The date and time of the State Semifinal game was updated on Nov. 13 at 12:23 p.m. after changes made by the MIAA.}
LYNN – Watertown’s opponent in the North Section final was a very familiar foe, and after losing a game that decided the league title, coach Frank Cacia told his team they could not lose another game and title to Melrose.
Sunday evening, Watertown senior Mehmet Yagcioglu broke the deadlock with 21 minutes left of the North Section final at Manning Field, and sent the Raiders on to to the State Semifinal with a 2-0 victory.
“I knew I had to fake the goalie because I saw him coming out,” Yagcioglu said. “And that was my weak foot.”
Cacia said he changed his strategy in the second half to send more players into the attack, and have midfielders make runs into the Melrose penalty box.
“We knew (the goalie) was coming off his line. We wanted one of our midfielders – which hadn’t been doing – to, kind of, run through,” Cacia said. “That was the key: running through the middle and Sammy (Deossa) found him with a great pass.”
Charlie Breitrose
Watertown senior Mehmet Yagcioglu celebrates after scoring the winning goal in the North Section Final. Watertown won 2-0 over Melrose.
Both teams had chances, but Watertown seemed closer to getting on the board. In the first half, senior Robert Danielian shot the ball past Melrose goalie Jared Dowell, but the referees ruled the play off sides.
Then early in the second half, a Watertown shot hit the crossbar and deflected down. The Raiders players began to celebrate by the officials let play continue.
After the Raiders goal, Melrose threw players forward and had their chances. One shot hit the post and bounced wide. Another went just a few feet above the bar, out of the reach of Watertown goalie Sergio Salas.
Charlie Breitrose
Watertown junior Alex Egan dribbles upfield in the North Section final in Lynn. He scored the second goal of the night.
However, it was Watertown, not Melrose, that scored the second goal of the game. When the Melrose goalie misplayed a ball, junior Alex Egan was there to tap the ball in the dying minutes of the game.
Cacia said the two teams had battled twice, both winning once, but Melrose came away with the Middlesex League small school division. He didn’t want to lose another key battle with Melrose.
“I told the boys we’re not going to let them take two titles from us – it’s not going to happen,” Cacia said.
The North title was the first for Watertown since 2013, when the Raiders claimed its second straight section championship. The Raiders return to Manning Field on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 5 p.m. to face Norwell in the State Semifinal.
Cacia watched Norwell play Saturday and said they are a very good side, but both he and Yagcioglu said the Raiders are in a grove.
“We’re very confident,” Yagcioglu said. “We’ll win the State.”
Charlie Breitrose
The Watertown boys soccer team poses after winning the North Section title 2-0 over Melrose on Sunday night.
Nice job boys….”We’re on to Norwell”