EASTHAMPTON – Joe Boyer hadn’t scored all season.
The Easthampton boys soccer senior primarily played defender and spark plug, providing three assists with his runs forward. His team needed more of a jolt Monday against No. 26 West Bridgewater in the MIAA Division 4 Round of 32.
The No. 7 Eagles, defending state champions, were tied late in the first half at Nonotuck Park. Boyer burst up the right sideline into open space as Ethan Marowitz attracted defenders at the top of the box. He slid Boyer a pass in open space that the senior buried first time for his first goal of the season.
“I rely on him. A lot of our energy really does come from him because he will make that run, and he won’t stop no matter how tired he is,” Easthampton coach Andrew Lawrence said. “We do rely on him to really pick up that energy, and that’s not the first time he’s done that for us. I don’t think it’ll be the last time.”
His run allowed Easthampton to extend its run in the state tournament with a 3-1 victory. The Eagles will host No. 10 Randolph at 2 p.m. Thursday at Nonotuck Park. The Blue Devils bested No. 23 Burke to get there.
“It’s definitely good knowing that we can keep playing our senior year,” Boyer said. “We all want it. We all want to keep playing.”
Jack Belcher-Timme put the Eagles ahead initially in the 18th minute when he pounced on a loose ball and rifled it into the back of the net.
The Wildcats responded with a long-range Ryan Estrella free kick 12 minutes later that he fired low. It took a weird hop on the late fall grass to level the game.
“That kind of really motivated us. I did feel like a big difference in our energy. I would have liked to have seen a little bit bigger difference in our play to start,” Lawrence said. “The kids really had that intensity and that drive to win.”
The Eagles largely channeled it into their defensive effort in the second half. As West Bridgewater’s season ticked away, the Wildcats pressed more and more aggressively and tried to attack with long balls. Easthampton captain Matt Bacis thwarted every attempt, including chasing down West Bridgewater’s Ben Fuller with a slide tackle at the 56th minute. If Bacis was late or out of position, Fuller would’ve had a clean look at the net.
“Going back to back is my main thing. I don’t want to let them score on me,” Bacis said. “I’m the key to the defense, so I want to lock them up.”
Easthampton then played through its creative forwards Marowitz and Mateo Navarro to burn away the rest of the clock and pick spots for an insurance goal. Kaden Garvey worked his way to the goal line and back inside with 2 minutes, 30 seconds remaining. Marowitz drifted into an open space near the six yard box and didn’t miss.
“We know they can finish the game and that was like a deal breaker right there,” Bacis said.
With a first-round win in the bag, the Eagles know to expect more as they advance further.
“We’ve been talking about no matter what, it’s not going to be easy. I think getting pushed in the first round here and even in Western Mass. against Mount Greylock, that physicality and that push is good for us,” Lawrence said. “It’s gonna motivate us to realize that we really need to bring that intensity every day.”
Kyle Grabowski can be reached at kgrabowski@gazettenet.com. Follow him on Twitter @kylegrbwsk.