MEDWAY – The high pitched thud of a soccer ball hitting the post will echo in Belchertown’s minds.
Late in an overtime that the Orioles shouldn’t have even been in during Saturday’s Division 3 state final against Nowell, forward Jack Holt played a cross to Jack Bianco at the top of the box. Bianco struck low again, across the face of goal toward the far post. It hit that post and kicked out to Kaden Houle, whose first-time shot sailed over the bar.
“It’s something I’ve never experienced before,” Bianco said. “I try to have a quick memory.”
A few centimeters the other way and it would have tucked in for state championship-winning golden goal, Belchertown’s third. Instead the Orioles gasped again and again at “so close” or “almost there.”
It eventually led to penalty kicks. Norwell keeper Anthony Geagea saved two Belchertown penalties and scored the decisive one to win the shootout 4-3, cementing the Clippers’ first state championship. They lost to Sutton in the 2017 Division 3 final. Belchertown was looking to defend its trophy from 2019 but fell a decisive moment shy.
“At the end of the day we have to score,” Belchertown coach Zach Siano said. “We had absolute sitters there that when a state championship is on the line, someone has to step up, and it can’t be the same guys relied upon time after time. Sadly we didn’t get that.”
The Orioles created plenty of chances like that in both overtime periods. Holt had a shot at a 50-50 ball off the first kick that eventually nestled safely in Geagea’s hands.
The best came with 12 minutes left in the second overtime. Shay O’Neill got the ball to Holt in front of two defenders. He touched it by them and split them to create a clean look at the goal. He aimed for the opposite corner, but Geagea dove far enough to his left and batted it away.
“Just hands on your head, watching helpless after the first shot I had,” Holt said. “It was really wonky.”
Houle was crashing from the opposite side and tried to tuck the rebound in past Geagea. The Clippers netminder scrambled to slap a hand to it. Christopher Adzima was waiting in the center to take a third crack at it, but that shot took a deflection and went over for a corner.
“I thought that was the game right there. Those are strong players that are out there,” Siano said. “We’ve got to clean that up. We’ve got to finish those. And sadly we don’t, and that’s why we’re not leaving here with a trophy.”
The hardware appeared headed back to Belchertown after the first 44 minutes. Holt opened the scoring 12 minutes in. He received a pass in the box from Houle, touched it across his body and popped a shot into the net.
The Orioles carried that advantage into halftime and capitalized again in the 44th minute. Holt put himself in the right spot to clean up a messy rebound and put Belchertown up 2-0.
“I think the pressure we put on that team and our dominating midfield really helped us out,” Holt said.
A penalty decision 10 minutes later did not. Nathan Davis was whistled for a foul in the penalty box shielding the ball for Orioles keeper Jacob Chaisson to pick it up.
“I’ve seen that play a million times a game,” Holt said. “And it’s never a penalty.”
Norwell’s Mischa Spasic tucked away the spot kick to his right and cut the deficit to one.
“Watching the game I could see an impact on the momentum of the game,” Holt said.
Norwell tied it 2-2 in the 59th minute. Alex Geagea jumped on a loose ball in the box and punched it into the net after five minutes of control by the Clippers.
“We’ve let teams hang around on us, and it’s the same sort of thing here,” Siano said. “One’s a PK, so be it. The other one is a miscue on our defensive line. But for that entire overtime period and the 10, 15 minutes prior to that we created better chances, had better looks.”
While Belchertown was searching for its winner, Chaisson ensured Norwell didn’t get one of its own. He made six stops, including a kick save with 20 minutes left one on one with Will Morse. Chaisson also parried a shot in overtime lunging to his left that kept the game alive and punched out a steady stream of long throw ins.
“He was huge at times,” Siano said.
After 110 minutes with Chaisson in net, Siano turned to freshman Jack Mandeville for the shootout. He stoned John Mullen’s initial attempt.
“I’ve just liked the way he’s looked in penalty kicks. When he comes up and he makes a save right off the bat there, our guys have to respond to that,” Siano said. “Jack did what he was supposed to do.”
Hunter LePage, O’Neill and Adzima buried penalties, while Anthony Geagea slapped out Grayson Marques’ and Bianco’s.
The loss marked the end of the road for Belchertown’s 12 seniors. The Orioles claimed three Western Massachusetts titles and the program’s second state title in 2019.
“They mean everything. Those aren’t just my teammates, they’re my closest friends,” Bianco said. “I’d rather play with them for the rest of my life than win the championship. That’s what’s most important to me. I know I’ll always remember the times I had with them.”