2 weeks Ago
WESTWOOD – Their last loss came a week shy of two months ago. So, when the final whistle blew on Saturday afternoon, with the scoreboard reading Xaverian 2, Methuen 0, it took some time for head coach Henry Marin and his players to absorb the pain of the loss — knowing it was the final time they would be together this fall season. There were hugs, there were tears and there were a few laughs, but Marin knows when the pain eventually goes away, his players will realize everything they accomplished together.
“I give all (the credit) to my guys. They played awesome all season long. They exceeded expectations.
Nobody expected us to be here. I’m just so proud of them. I’m so proud of their hard work and all their commitment,” he said.
Here was Xaverian Brothers High. And to get to the school located in Westwood, Marin’s team had to first climb out of a hole, a 1-3-1 start to the season before turning things completely around. From there, the Rangers went 12-0-4, won the Merrimack Valley Conference Division 3 title for the first time since 1985, before picking off the No.
33 seed Bishop Feehan, 2-1, in overtime and then the No. 3 seed Weymouth, also by a 2-1 score. “I told these guys since last year that they were going to be good.
I kept on reminding them. I knew we were going to pick up steam (after the slow start), I just didn’t know when,” said Marin. “I knew that we had a good team.
I knew we were going to get into the states, and we were content with going far but today we just ran out of gas. We went 16 in a row (with a loss) which was unbelievable, we had two upsets in the tournament (but a loss) happened.” Xaverian handed the Rangers the loss, scoring single goals in each half.
Pano Haseotes converted on a penalty kick midway through the first half, and then with five minutes remaining in the game, Drew Logie scored the big insurance goal. Methuen’s best chance to score came in the final two minutes of the first half when Andy Rodriguez sent a screaming shot just over the crossbar from 20 yards out. “We were getting there (with our offense) but the ball was going up in the air too much instead of to our feet,” said Marin.
“(Xaverian) had size and they had the advantage there. I think if we played the ball to feet more, we would have been more successful.” Methuen goalie Dylan Gavin turned away 10 shots.
He is one of 11 seniors who played in his final game. “I’m going to remember the seniors for all their hard work and their commitment over the four years,” said Marin. “They helped change this program around so kudos to them.
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