Published in the Boston Globe on October 12, 2012
After dropping its last two games, the No. 9 Danvers boys’ soccer team was hoping to return to form after an 8-0 start, but Peabody forged a 1-1 draw Thursday in Danvers.
“It was a very clean, well played game,” Peabody coach Stan McKeen said. “It was fitting that it ended in a tie.”
After a scoreless first half, Danvers defender Drew Piazza converted a floated pass to the middle of the box into a 1-0 lead in the 65th minute.
McKeen was pleased with the play of junior netminder Sean Walsh.
“The one goal they scored was certainly not his fault,” McKeen said. “He played very well, made the saves he had to make. He kept us in the game.”
Once behind, McKeen decided to switch to a three-forward push from the two-forward, four-midfielder configuration.
“It was one coaching move that worked,” he said.
With five minutes to play, the Tanners knotted the game when senior striker Valasi Duni crossed the ball outside the box to sophomore striker Ben Manoogian, who was waiting to tap the ball into the net.
“I was somewhat frustrated because I thought we played well throughout the game . . . [and playing] on their field is a tough place to play,” McKeen said.
The Tanners will use the momentum from the matchup of Northeastern Conference division leaders; they need 3 points to clinch a state tournament berth.
“It’s going to propel us through the rest of the season because it’s our biggest rivalry,” he said. “It would have been nice to get a win, but I’m happy with a tie.”