Two out of three Algonquin varsity teams are advancing to the next round of MIAA Division 1 playoffs tomorrow. In all three games, the lower seed team triumphed.
That’s something the Titans will hope is a trend as they face top seed competitors this Wednesday.
Algonquin Field Hockey played slightly upper seed Malden-Catholic in the MIAA Division 1 Round of 32. The Telegram posted a recap of their 1-0 win:
Taylor Mieth scored on a penalty corner from Wyley Horner as the 17th-seeded Titans (9-6-4) squeaked past the 16th-seeded Lancers (12-3-4)
That pits them against #1 Walpole. The Sweet 16 away game is scheduled for tomorrow night (November 5th), at 6:30 pm.
ARHS Boys Soccer also played a team just one seed above them yesterday. MetroWest Daily News covered the action (with photo and video highlights) from the D1 prelims between #33 Titans and Lincoln-Sudbury.
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Gonk junior Alex Deschaine made both goals for the team’s 2-1 win. MWDN wrote:
From just outside the box or just beyond the center line, Alex Deschaine is a scoring threat. The Algonquin junior also happens to be a defender, making that point clear late in the match.
But his touch from short and long range lifted the Titans past Lincoln-Sudbury 2-1 on Monday in a Division 1 preliminary-round boys soccer match.
A minute after L-S knotted the score, Deschaine took a free kick on his side of the pitch and bounced it into the box and into the goal with seven minutes to play for the decisive tally.
“I was looking to just play a dangerous ball in the box,” Deschaine said. “I got lucky enough to get a bounce off the keeper and it went in. It was all good after that.”
Deschaine, who also scored on a free kick in the first half, is the Mid-Wach A League MVP, according to Algonquin coach Fred Zupicich. Deschaine has eight goals this season, seven on free kicks.
Now, the junior and his team will be pitted against top seed St. John’s for the Round of 32. That away game is set for Wednesday at 3:30 pm.
The paper highlighted the challenge of taking on a team that “has lost just three times over the past two seasons” (only once this year) and only allowed six goals this fall. Deschaine indicated the Titans are looking forward to it:
“We haven’t been great this season, but a win in the playoffs is something and now we’re on to SJ Prep,” Deschaine said. “Not scared at all. The boys are hyped. There’s no pressure. They’re the best team in the state.”
You can read the full story here.
Meanwhile, ARHS Girls Soccer had the home field advantage in their prelim last night against Haverhill. But it’s the traveling team that will advance.
MIAA’s Power Ranked seeding painted a much different picture of which team was stronger heading into the game than their records did. #30 ARHS’ record was only 2-10-6 vs #35 Haverhill’s 9-5-4. Last night, the Titans were shutout 0-2.
