Braveheart Soccer......Historical Records

In the early going of the game versus St. John's Prep it looked like the Raiders were still living in the past. This past Thursday to be exact. They thought they didn't have to play to win this one, but play they must. Central saw itself down 2-0 within the first 17 minutes of the first half. Then they started to play. Jon Kasper took a Joe mead pass and hammered it home at the 23 minute mark to make the score 2-1. At this point Alex Desorgo came on to play goal for the Central squad. He had several solid saves in the half to hold back St. Johns. The Raiders mounted several good scoring chances in the final 10 minutes of the first half. In the dying seconds of the half Jeff Gannon put a great shot on goal from 35 yards out and beat the Prep goalie in the lower left hand corner. In the seconf half Mike Casale flicked a nice ball to Gannon who neatly tucked into the lower right hand corner to give the Raiders a 3-2 lead. They held on to this lead for the win despite some solid attack from St. Johns. Alex DeSorgo came up big in this half for the Raiders with some very solid saves to preserve the win.

Central's Raiders came to play, and play they did. From the opening whistle to the end they dominated all aspects of this big MVC matchup. Jeff Gannon and Jon Kasper controlled the midfield and shut dow one of the more prolific scoring teams in the MVC. Joe Mead and Mike Casale's outside runs gave Central numerous chances at the Dracut goal. The Defense for the Raider lads was outstanding, limiting Dracut to only 4 or 5 scoring threats. Matt Moccia, Justin Waitt, and the bookend Tims, Woitkun and Bourque probably played their strongest game of the season. Mike MacDonald and Jay Rourke gave the Middies all they could handle up front. Jeff Gannon scored two goals and assisted on another as he had what would be a career game for some but for him has become commonplace. John McGinness played the net well taking away some chances by reacting early to the balls that Dracut attempted to serve on goal. Central is now tied for first with both Dracut, who has finished their MVC season, and Lowell, who they play Thursday night at 7 PM in Lowell in a game that will determine the Large School MVC winner for 2000.

The All-Star Game for the Merrimack Valley Conference will be played on Sunday, October 29, 2000. The boy's game begins at 1:00pm: the girl's game begins at 3:00pm. The games will be played at Lovely Field in Andover (The Andover Football Stadium). ADMISSION PRICE FOR MEMBERS OF MVC SOCCER TEAMS WILL BE $1.00....COME AND SUPPORT YOUR TEAM MATES. The game will be broken down as follows: The teams wearing their home white jersies will be as follows: Teams from: Central Catholic, Chelmsford, Lawrence, Lowell, & Tewksbury The teams wearing their colored away jersies will be as follows: Teams from: Andover, Billerica, Dracut, Haverhill, & Methuen At a meeting of the coaches on Monday, October 23rd, the following boy's were selected to the Merrimack Valley Conference All Conference and All-Star teams. All Conference- Andover: Jim Hale - Senior Billerica: Dave Giordano - Senior Central Catholic: Jeff Gannon - Junior Joe Mead - Senior Chelmsford: James Boucher - Senior Dan Morias - Senior Dracut: Dan Frederick - Senior Derek Masse - Senior Haverhill: Henry Marin- Sophomore Lowell: Chris Gabriel - Senior Odilio Gianini - Junior Frank Moscato - Senior Bobby Pontes - Senior Methuen: Steve Habib - Senior Tewksbury: Jonathan Adams - Junior ALL STAR SELECTIONS Andover: Dan Bellacqua - Senior Matt Bengston - Junior Geordie Miliotis - Senior Billerica: Ken Christainsen - Junior Central Catholic: John McGinnis - Junior Matt Moccia - Senior Steve Perry - Senior Justin Waitt - Senior Tim Woitkun - Senior Chelmsford: Bill Campopiano - Senior Steve Silk - Senior Dracut: Nick Beauchamp - Junior Mike Cafeterio - Sophomore Brian Masse - Junior Brian Zukowski - Sophomore Haverhill: James Divincenzo - Senior Andrea Dragoti - Senior Lawrence: Ronald Castro - Senior Lowell: Tito Gravito - Senior Methuen: Mark Beeley - Junior Mike Coco - Senior Tewksbury: Chris Vanasselberg - Junior CO-PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: Odilio Gianini - Lowell Derek Masse - Dracut COACH OF THE YEAR: Large School - Ray Flaherty - Central Catholic Small School - Nunzio DiMarca - Haverhill TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD: Tewksbury

Malden Catholic took a 1-0 lead after the first half and Central came back strong in the second half, totally dominating the Lancers but only scoring one goal to earn the tie. Malden Catholic only got over midfield twice in the second half but they were able to hold off a strong surge by the Raiders who took 24 shots the second half. The problem was that only 6 shots were on net. Mike Casale scored the tieing goal at the 67 minute mark. John McGinness stopped six shots on net. Central is now 11-3-3 and plays again on Tuesday at home versus Dracut in a crucial MVC Matchup for both teams.