SOUTH HADLEY — South Hadley goalie Xzavies Rosario didn’t have the best view of the ball with about 12 minutes left in a scoreless tie against Monument Mountain.
After a South Hadley defender got called for a yellow card, the Spartans set up for a direct kick a little over 20 yards from the net. As the shot sped to the bottom right corner of the net, Rosario drove to his left, getting just enough of the ball to tip it off the post and prevent Monument Mountain from taking the lead.
“My view was kind of obscured by somebody’s hand,” Rosario said. “So it was more of a reaction save and a little bit of a guess.”
The junior made eight saves on the night, including his 100th of the season, to help South Hadley secure a 0-0 tie as it heads into the postseason.
“He’s stepped up time and time again,” South Hadley coach Byron Joy said. “He’s very passionate, he’s like a brick wall back there.”
It’s not too often a team get excited about a scoreless tie, but Joy saw this team compete for a full 80 minutes, including the last portion of the game down a man due to a second yellow card.
“This is probably one of the better games we played in a while. Every player stepped up and gave 100%. I couldn’t be prouder of them,” Joy said. “We are starting to run on all cylinders. Some games the first 20 minutes we play hard, then we kind of step back a little bit, and then (play hard) the last 20 minutes.”
The Spartans presented as one of the toughest opponents the Tigers faced all season. Despite a 6-8-1 record, they were ranked third in the MIAA power rankings for Division 4. South Hadley ranked 11th coming into the game.
“The guys were amped up for this game. It was senior night, under the lights. The atmosphere was perfect,” Joy said.
South Hadley limited Monument Mountain to two shots on net in the first half. While the Spartans took more shots after halftime, the Tigers’ backline, led by seniors Kaysen Gauthier, Matthew Butler, and Daniel Beaulieu, stepped up when their backs to the wall.
“They’ve played great all year and today,” Rosario said. “They played exceptionally well. I think they were more important than I was. They were stepping to everything.”
The trio were among eight seniors that celebrated their last regular season home game of their careers.
“We have such a great senior class,” Joy said. “They’re very respectful. They are passionate about the sport of soccer and they’re passionate about our team.”
South Hadley finishes the regular season at 7-4-5 as they await for what’s ahead in the Western Mass. and state tournaments.
South Hadley’s Chris Sotiropoulos, right, battles for position during the first half of the boys soccer game on Wednesday. RYAN AMES/Staff Photo 
South Hadley’s Spencer Parsons, left, goes for the header during the first half of the boys soccer game against Monument Mtn on Wednesday. RYAN AMES/Staff Photo 
South Hadley’s Martin Dixon, left, controls the ball during the first half of the boys soccer game against Monument Mtn on Wednesday. RYAN AMES/Staff Photo
Gateway 1, Westfield Tech 0 — Eli Chepurenko’s first half strike held up as the game-winner in the Gators’ victory.
Gateway goalie Zack Hess made four saves for the clean sheet.
Chicopee 1, Belchertown 0 — The Orioles were nipped by the Pacers in their non-league defeat.
Belchertown last won Oct. 8 against Minnechaug.
Ludlow 2, Amherst 0 — The Hurricanes picked up their first loss in six games in the shutout versus the Lions.
Amherst won or tied its previous five games.
Franklin Tech 5, Smith Academy 0 — The Falcons received 16 saves from goalie Callan Payne, but fell to the Eagles.
Westfield 1, Easthampton 0 — The Eagles’ winless streak stretched to five in the shutout against the Bombers.
Girls soccer
Hampshire 2, South Hadley 0 — Goals from Claire Pickard and Shayne Moynahan sent the Raiders past the Tigers.
Hampshire, which won its 11th game of the season, received eight saves from Emilia Berrena. South Hadley goalie Olivia Athas attained five saves in the loss.
Monson 1, Hopkins 0 — The Golden Hawks were held off the scoreboard for the second straight game in the shutout against the Mustangs.
Hannah Guggino-Laramie concluded with seven saves for Hopkins.
Field hockey
Franklin Tech 4, Hampshire 0 — The Raiders’ offense dried up in the shutout against the Eagles.
Hampshire goalie Grace Layman made one save in the defeat.
Girls volleyball
Belchertown 3, East Longmeadow 1 — After dropping the first set, the Orioles flew back and won the next three to claim their sixth consecutive victory.
Cassidy MacLean and Harper Bean were stellar on the attack, combining for nearly 40 kills, while Olivia Skora (43 assists) and Kaiya Cavanaugh (46 digs) helped Belchertown down the Spartans.
Set scores were 23-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-23 for the Orioles.
Ludlow 3, Easthampton 0 — Four different Eagles managed multiple kills, but the Lions were up to the task as they sank the hosts.
Set scores came out to 22-25, 11-25, 20-25 for Ludlow.
Tuesday Results
Cross Country
Amherst 19, West Springfield 42; Amherst 15, Chicopee Comp 49; Amherst 15, Chicopee 50 (boys) — The Hurricanes wrapped up their regular-season slate with a tri-meet victory at the Irish Cultural Center in West Springfield.
Calvin Miller won the race in 17 minutes, 26 seconds, before two more Amherst runners followed in Otis Fairey (18:14) and Nicholas Workman (18:22) for second and third place. Jeremiah Hayslip (18:25) and Alhassan Abdel-Maksoud (18:43) rounded out the ‘Canes top five.
Holyoke vs SICS (boys) — Ryan Peralta-Jesurum took second place in the dual meet at Forest Park, finishing in 21:31.
Girls soccer
Granby 6, Easthampton 0 — Multi-point games from Kalli White and Marcela Tapia pushed the Rams past the Eagles.
White scored twice and added an assist while Tapia potted a goal and assist. White also reached 100 career goals.
Granby’s Meredith Bartosz recorded four saves for the shutout.
Chicopee Comp 4, Holyoke 1 — The Purple Knights could only find the back of the net once in their regular-season finale against the Colts.
Kyra Lippman scored Holyoke’s only goal while goalie Jennaya Torres totaled 10 saves.
Boys soccer
Hampshire 5, Mohawk 0 — The Raiders blew past the Warriors off the heels of four first-half strikes.
Patrick Schmidt found the back of the net twice for Hampshire.
Max Johnson (two saves) and Isaiah Isa (save) combined for the shutout for the Raiders.
Field hockey
Northampton 0, Palmer 0 — The Blue Devils battled the Panthers to a scoreless draw.
