BELCHERTOWN — The Belchertown boys soccer team proved its strength with a 3-1 victory over streaking Amherst Regional Monday.
The game tied 1-1 at halftime. First-half goals came from Belchertown senior captain Benjamin LaClair and Amherst senior captain Lucas Willocq.
In the second half, the Orioles took over behind goals from senior captain Cyrus Raines and junior Jarod Bolton.
The Orioles snapped Amherst’s eight-game win streak and improved their own streak to four games.
“We’re a little over halfway through the season so guys are starting to get used to each other in our formation we have on the field,” Belchertown coach Tony Almeida said. “They’re just working hard.”
With eight games remaining, Belchertown (9-2) needs one more point to qualify for the postseason.
Amherst (9-4) has five games remaining and has already qualified for the playoffs.
“We still got to keep working hard. We still have a lot to improve on,” Almeida said. “As a team and as individual players we still have a long way to go; at least to play the way I want them to.”
Chris Tilton (four saves) and Sean McCarthy (three) shared time in net for Belchertown.
“They’re a great group of kids,” Almeida said of his team. “They’re working very hard and they’re very committed to each other. The second half of this game they could have just pulled pack. But they worked hard and came back to beat a very good team in Amherst. I couldn’t be more thrilled with these guys, they’re doing a heck of a job for me.”