Soccer: Boys' Continue Winning Ways, Girls' Fall For First Loss to Woburn

Belmont High Boys' Soccer Head Coach Peter Guellnitz wasn't all that enamored with the play by his team in the early going against Woburn High.

"They were playing like they could win without putting in the necessary effort. They think that out on the field but you can see (from the sideline) that's not going to work against [Woburn,]" said Guellnitz of his team which this week was ranked 18th in Eastern Mass. by the Boston Globe.

To put a spark under his team, Guellnitz looked to his bench and some of the smaller spark plugs on the team.

"Our substitutes will play physical and win balls and that's the game we need to play, possession soccer," said Guellnitz. 

And it worked as senior forward Michael Chertkov scored twice and assisted on fellow senior Andrew Strawbridge's opener to lead the Marauders (5-0-1) past a determined Tanner Eleven, 3-2, on Monday, Sept. 23, at Harris Field.

While the Boys' remain unbeaten, Belmont's Girls' Soccer (2-1-3) fell from the undefeated ranks as they dropped a 2-1 decision against host Woburn on Monday. 

Belmont's starting goalkeep junior Peter Berens had a steady game to earn his fifth win, getting help from the crossbar which Tanner attackers hit three times during the course of the Middlesex League match. 

"We were on the back foot but in the second half we began holding them off," said Guellnitz.

Belmont started the scoring nine minutes into the game on their first rush deep into Woburn's end as Chertkov laid off a perfect centering pass right onto the on-rushing Strawbridge who shot it low and into the left side of an open net from 11 meters out. 

With the score tied due to Woburn's Eliah Maweije's 18-meter strike at the 16 minute mark, Belmont began dominating play and struck again as Chertkov received junior Andrew Eurdolian's pass, spun by his marker and rocketed a shot by Woburn's Bradley Stiffler. 

Chertkov finished the scoring with a 10-meter shot by Stiffler six minutes into the period. Woburn's impressive forward/midfielder Preston Gordon – whose semi-breakaway shot midway through the period nearly took off Berens gloves before rattling the crossbar – fell down and was awarded a penalty with four minutes left.

But that would be the final score for Woburn as Belmont defender junior Sami Belkadi stuffed a final chance shot by the Tanners in the final minute. 

Belmont takes on Lexington at home at 6 p.m. at Harris Field on Thursday, Sept. 25.