Published in the Boston Globe and online on November 7, 2011.
The Peabody boys’ soccer team won its eighth consecutive game with a 2-0 shutout over Lowell in the first round of MIAA Division 1 North tournament yesterday.
Thanks to a week of rainouts and makeups, Peabody (14-5) had played four games in five days to end the regular season, winning all of them, and hasn’t lost since Oct. 20.
“We were playing the kind of soccer you want to be playing going into the tournament,’’ said coach Stan McKeen.
After a scoreless first half, Peabody’s senior cocaptain Colin Mahoney netted his first postseason goal from 18 yards out. Mahoney had 12 goals and 12 assists during the regular season.
“I’m not sure the goalie saw it,’’ said McKeen.
With five minutes left, Lowell (11-4-4) was granted a penalty kick that could have tied the game, but senior goalie Patrick Ryan (21 saves) denied it.
The Tanners increased their lead on senior cocaptain Alec Cerqueira’s tally with one minute left.
Peabody plays the winner of today’s Brighton-Billerica game Wednesday.