Soccer: Boys' Win in Winchester a Signature Victory

Red Sox, Yankees.

Bruins, Canadians.

Celtics, Lakers.

Belmont High School Soccer, Winchester High School Soccer.

There are long-time rivalries in High School sports, each school has them.

But then there are those yearly games that are metaphorically blood feuds in which both teams will do anything to come off the field victorious. 

For the past decade, it appeared that Winchester would bully Belmont around, beating them in the regular season and especially in the post season; for two consecutive seasons – 2010 and 2011 – the Marauders played the Sachems three times, twice in the regular season and in the Division 2 North tournament. Each time, a heartbreaking loss.

But the worm began to turn last year as the Marauders took three of four points from Winchester, winning at home, 2-1, and gaining a tie away. 

Yesterday, Monday, Sept. 30, Belmont traveled to Winchester for yet another match. This time, it was as an undefeated team and atop the Middlesex League's Liberty Division, in a position the host Sachems would love to end the Marauders' winning run. 

Not this time. 

As the sun set across Winchester, so did the Sachems' stranglehold on the Marauders as Andrew Strawbridge and Luke Gallagher scored in the last half hour to secure a signature 2-1 victory for Belmont's program.

Belmont now stands atop the division with Lexington with six wins and two ties. 

Belmont can not rest on their victory as they host 8-1 Wilmington High on Thursday, Oct. 3 at 6 p.m.

Strawbridge break the onside trap by Winchester on a Michael Chertkov pass and scoring on the clean breakaway 12 minutes into the half. 

Converted defender Gallagher added his own breakaway taking a Nick Pearson through ball and hitting the back of the net with four minutes left in the game.

Having performed at his already high standard through out the game, Belmont junior goalkeeper Peter Berens lost a chance at a shut out from a long shot in the final minutes of the game, the only down side to a game that the team, coaches and fans will remember for quite a while.