<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1yrTdb_0wFCvpWk00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1yrTdb_0wFCvpWk00" width="450" height="450" >The Marblehead High boys soccer team (8-2-4) handed the host Danvers Falcons a 4-2 loss on their Senior Night last Wednesday, Oct. 16, at Deering Stadium. After suffering a draw in their first matchup with the Falcons a few weeks ago — a game that was well within Marblehead’s grasp — the Magicians were determined to get off to a fast start this time around.The first sign of trouble arrived at the 26-minute mark, but it was short-lived. A Danvers striker started a fast break down the left touchline. He raced over 30 yards, while outdistancing the Marblehead defenders, before attempting to outmaneuver past goalie Rory Zampese. Smartly, Zampese came up high in the box to cut off the striker’s angle with a slide, averting disaster. As a result, the ball bounced harmlessly out of bounds.A few minutes later, the Marblehead boys developed a rhythm with its passing game, while stepping up the attack. Aidan Vizy served up a quality ball to Ilan Druker on the left side in Danvers territory. Druker then fired a solid shot toward the net. But ultimately, it sailed just over the crossbar.Midfielder London McDonald blasted a shot that nicked off a defender, but the Falcons goalie wrapped it up. Bubacar Jallow eventually recovered the ball on the right side after a foul was called against Danvers. Forward David Magen got tangled up by two defenders, which created the violation. On the ensuing direct kick by Druker, Jallow ran horizontally to the right toward the ball, and was shielded perfectly, before firing a shot past the Danvers goalie to account for the first score, despite taking it at a difficult angle across the face of the goal.Marblehead notched the second goal on a well-placed corner kick by Druker. Defender Dylan Gilmore eventually came soaring through traffic, before heading the ball into the net.Later in the first half, Magen dribbled the ball through the heart of the Falcons defense under pressure, but was tripped up while attempting to shoot. He was awarded a penalty kick, and subsequently converted it for the third Marblehead goal of the game.Much of the second half was played between the 18s, with both sides possessing the same amount of time in the other team’s end. But neither squad threatened consistently. In one sequence, Marblehead fired three consecutive shots at close range, but they were all blocked by Danvers in front.Midway through the half, Danvers got a yellow card after bringing down middie Marc Grazado in the open space. The ensuing kick from fullback Colin White soared beautifully in the air, only to drop at the edge of the penalty box, but the Magicians were unable to get a foot on it.The Magicians increased the margin of difference to four, when, with 15 minutes left, Druker was hip checked in the box, before falling to the turf, which drew a penalty kick. The Danvers goalie dove left, while Druker wisely fired to the right to account for his teammates’ fourth tally.Unfortunately, the Magicians faltered in the final two minutes of the game, conceding two goals.After press deadline, the Magicians faced Winthrop on Oct. 18 , followed by non-league Everett last Saturday. North Andover (Oct. 24, 6:30 p.m. in Scarlet Knights country) and Melrose (Oct. 28, 4:30 p.m. at Piper) then provide the opposition to close out the regular season. As of Oct. 18, these Magicians are seeded 13 th in the Division 2 power rankings.Troy Miller contributed to this report.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

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Boys soccer topples Danvers to clinch state tournament berth

The Marblehead High boys soccer team (8-2-4) handed the host Danvers Falcons a 4-2 loss on their Senior Night last Wednesday, Oct. 16, at Deering Stadium. After suffering a draw in their first matchup with the Falcons a few weeks ago — a game that was well within Marblehead’s grasp — the Magicians were determined to get off to a fast start this time around.