Salvador Castro converted a penalty shot in Classical's 3-2 double-overtime loss to Pentucket in Division 2 North preliminary-round action at Manning Field on Saturday. The Rams finish the season 11-3-4. (Item File Photo)

   

LYNN - In a game full of good plays and heart-stopping moments, it all ended for the Classical boys soccer team in an instant.

The Rams and Pentucket were 5:55 away from engaging in a shootout to determine the winner in their Division 2 North soccer preliminary game Saturday at Manning Field when the Sachems got the game-winner by Paxton Sedler. It occurred on a play that most of the Classical contingent -- including Coach Rob Upton -- thought should have been whistled dead because of a Pentucket offside violation.

But there was no whistle. Sedler kept going, got past the Classical defense, and put one past Rams goalie Don Gomez.

Thus, Pentucket came away with the 3-2 victory and advanced to the quarterfinal (against either Danvers or Bedford) Wednesday.

Afterward, Upton wouldn't engage in any second-guessing over any possible non-calls, even though he spent a few minutes at midfield after the game in discussion with the referees.

"That's what the call was," he said. "From where I was, it was tough to tell. It looked like a tough call to make.

"But he (the referee) saw it as onside, and that's what we have to live with," he said. "But it's a tough way to end the season, on a play like that."

Both teams gave it all they had. The lead flip-flopped two different times, with each team coming out of a one-goal hole.

The Sachems got things started at 9:37 of the first half when Colin MacDonald shot the ball from about 20 feet out. It looked as if that would be enough until there was 23:36 left in the game. That's when things really started happening.

That's when Pentucket keeper Logan Sherwood came out to meet Classical's Salvador Castro as he was bearing in on the net. Castro was actually past the point of doing any real harm when Sherwood, in an effort to get the ball away from him, cut his legs out from under him, giving him a penalty shot.

Castro made good on that attempt to tie the score, and the Rams took the lead with 16:31 to go when Kevine Kakou's shot hit the crossbar, came down, and bounced into the net.

But that only lasted about four minutes. Pentucket's Will Craig scored the equalizer with 11:10 to go after winning a footrace of sorts with Gomez. Craig was going one way chasing a through ball, and Gomez was trying to hustle out to cut it off. Craig won it -- barely -- and got his foot on the ball. It trickled in to tie the score.

The teams went through one overtime, where Gomez made at least one spectacular save to keep Classical in it. But the Rams' luck ran out in overtime No. 2.

"Our guys put forth a great effort, not only in this game, but all year," said Upton, whose Rams end the season with an 11-3-4 record. Classical won the Northeastern Conference/Small division for the second straight season.

 

By Matthew Roy / For The Item

The Lynn Classical and Lynn Tech boys soccer teams met back in September to begin the regular season and on Monday at Manning Field, the two put an end to the regular season with an entertaining contest.

The Tigers twice fought back after Classical took the lead, salvaging a 2-2 tie on Edwin Alas' goal with seven minutes left in the second half.

"It was very close all the way," Rams coach Rob Upton said. "Anytime you get two Lynn teams together it's going to be a tight one. We're both in the tournament so we were fighting for pride."

Salvador Castro gave Classical (10-3-4) a 1-0 lead at halftime on a goal assisted by Abdoulaye Bah. Tech clawed back to tie the game on a Francisco Franco penalty kick early in the second.

But the Rams retook the lead when Castro struck again, this time, unassisted at the midpoint of the half.

"They got that second goal and it really seemed to pump us up a bit," Tech coach Fred Gallo said. "Usually that can be a killer but it worked the opposite for us."

The Tigers put on the pressure and Alas paid it off when he beat Don Gomez on a free kick to deadlock things for good.

"Both teams played fantastic," Gallo said. "Sure, you would like to win but both sides played so well that a tie was well deserved."

By Jerry DiStefano / For The Item

The Classical boys soccer team received a monster performance from Salvador Castro in a 5-1 victory over Revere at Revere on Thursday.

The Rams (10-3-1) jumped out to an early 4-0 halftime lead and never looked back. Castro was the main cog for the Rams' early surge with his three goals. Yabesi Musema contributed two goals on the day. The Rams' Javier Castro and Abdoulaye Bah combined to have four assists (Castro 3, Bah 1). Classical coach Rob Upton was impressed by his team's performance.

"My team worked very hard today and played very strong in every aspect of the game. It was fun to watch and great to coach when all those things can happen," Upton said.

For Revere (4-6-4), Qais Ghulam scored the Patriots' lone goal. Revere needs to win three of its remaining four games to qualify for the state tournament.

 

Saugus' Scott Meuse (24) trips while Classical's Salvador Castro (7) tries to take the ball towards the net at Manning Field on Tuesday. (Item Photo / Angela Owens)

 

 Wednesday, October 19, 2011 By Joyce Erekson / The Daily Item

LYNN - It's funny how, when everyone's rowing in the same direction, they get to where they're going faster.

The Classical High boys soccer team defeated Saugus, 8-1, Tuesday at Manning Field with speed, skill and an excellent passing game doing in the Sachems. The Rams are now 9-3-1 with a trip to the postseason already assured.


"We played well," Classical coach Rob Upton said. "We kind of jumped out early in both halves and the guys did a nice job moving the ball and working together."

The first inkling that Saugus (3-10) might be in for a long night came when junior Salvador Castro scored 35 seconds into the game and again a minute and two seconds later. Castro, who finished with four goals and an assist, would end up being a major problem for the Sachems.

"Salvador had a nice game," Upton said. "He was able to finish off. He also passed the ball a lot. I'm more pleased with his passing. He and Yabesi Musema (goal and 4 assists) really worked well together."

Musema fed the ball to Castro in front of the net and Castro got off a blistering shot to the left of goalie Peter Pulcari to give Classical a 1-0 lead. On the second goal, Musema carried the ball down the sideline and made a perfect pass to Castro, who banged it in for a 2-0 lead.

Abdoulaye Bah got off a nice shot that went just wide a few minutes later, but the reprieve was short-lived for Saugus. Walter Cifuentes took a nice lead pass from Javier Castro with 27:33 remaining and he blasted one high and to the right for a 3-0 Classical lead.

The Rams had a couple more near-misses in the first half, one by Salvador Castro, who did a nice job getting past a defender on a rush down the left side of the field, but stumbled a few yards down the road to lose the breakaway. He still managed to get off a rocket to the far corner that went just wide. A minute or so later, the Rams nearly headed one in, but Pulcari made a nice save.

The Sachems seemed to pick up a little steam down the stretch and with 11:53 remaining in the half, Alex Ung spoiled the shutout with a line drive to the right corner that Classical goalie Don Gomez couldn't get to. The final few minutes featured a lot of action at both ends of the field including another shot by Salvador Castro that probably left a dent in the left post.

The Sachems were still in the game at the half, trailing 3-1, but Castro took the ball down the field to start the second half and scored 14 seconds into the half. Castro struck again a couple of minutes later when he carried the ball down the right sideline and made a beautiful centering pass to Musema, who was all alone in front of the net. Musema knocked it in for a 5-1 Classical lead.

The Rams added three more goals before the whistle sounded, one by Henry DeLeon, another by Castro and the final one by Joel Martinez.

"Classical was flying," Saugus coach Tom Duplisea said. "They have speed and they have skill. He (Upton) is doing a nice job. He's gotten them all playing together."

By Steve Krause / The Daily Item

The Classical boys soccer team has had many memorable battles with Peabody since the Tanners came into the Northeastern Conference, but until Thursday, the Rams had never won one of them.

Now, they have.

Classical, 7-2-1, came home from Peabody with a 3-2 win.

"It's a huge win," said Classical coach Rob Upton. "We were able to take advantage of our opportunities and meet the challenge."

The teams battled to a 2-2 halftime draw, with Abdoulaye Bah (with an assist from Yabesi Musema) and Jose Monterola (unassisted) scoring for Classical and Colin Mahoney scoring both for the Tanners (4-3, 3-1 in the NEC).

Musema's unassisted goal in the second half made the difference.

"They played well," said Peabody's Stan McKeen. "They moved the ball well and took advantage of some of our mistakes."

Upton said the Rams got solid games from Javier Castro in the middle, as well as Kavin Kakou and Alex Cifuentes.
 

By Joyce Erekson / The Daily Item

LYNN - When you score as frequently as Classical's Salvador Castro does, it shouldn't come as any surprise that the number on the jersey looks more like a bull's-eye to the opposition.

English did an admirable job keeping the junior striker in check Tuesday night, but the Rams found other ways to get the job done. Five different players, including Castro, scored in a 5-0 Classical win at Manning Field.

When the Bulldog attack started to show signs of life in the second half, Classical goalie Don Gomez turned up his game a notch or two, or five. Gomez made several spectacular saves, mostly in the second half off shots by Leo Awokang and A.J. Xhemalji, to preserve the shutout.

"It's always nice to beat English," Classical coach Rob Upton said. "They're a tough team every time we play them."

Upton said his team has some work to do, but he was happy to see so many different players figure in the scoring.

"We had five different guys pitching in and finishing," Upton said.

Gomez' effort in net didn't go unnoticed.

"He made a couple of saves where he just came out of nowhere," Upton said.

Upton said Gomez saw a little time in net last year, but heading into the season, the keeper position was a question mark.

"Don just stepped up," he said. "He played great."

Yabesi Musema, who has also been a threat for the Rams this season, got the ball rolling when he gathered up a deflected ball right in front of the net and drilled it to the left of English goalie James Siyane Kennedy 2 1/2 minutes into the game. Twelve minutes or so later, Castro scored on a free kick that went left of the wall and banked off the goalpost and into the net. It was Abdoulaye Bah's turn next when he hit a rocket into the left side of the net for a 3-0 Classical lead. English almost got one back late in the half off a free kick, but Gomez made a nice save.

Javier Castro extinguished any hope the Bulldogs had of getting back in the game when he scored off a corner kick that the keeper initially saved, only to have it squirt loose and land in the net. The Rams wrapped up the scoring with 16:15 remaining on a beauty of a goal by Ericson Rodriguez.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the field, Gomez was stonewalling the Bulldogs, who came close three or four times. Gomez deflected one shot over the top of the net and when English was awarded a penalty kick, he stopped the ball with his body and then batted away the rebound.

"We have no problem creating opportunities, just finishing off," English coach Kerry King said. "We're just having trouble finishing. It's very frustrating."

King said the Classical offense played very well.

"Their strikers were tremendous," King said. "They were very dangerous. Very fast."

English falls to 3-4-1 with the loss. Classical is 6-2-1 overall, 5-0 in the Northeastern Conference.

Upton commended his defense, particularly Kevine Kakou and Walter Cifuentes.

Classical's Salvador Castro (7) jumps over Revere's Benjamin Graciani (21) during their game at Manning Field on Monday. (Item Photo / Angela Owens)

   

By Joyce Erekson / The Daily Item

LYNN - Classical High boys soccer coach Rob Upton had plenty to be happy about Monday.

The Rams defeated Revere, 4-0, at Manning Field and in doing so, extended their winning streak to three games. Junior Salvador Castro had a hat trick. Freshman Strati Saranteas posted a shutout in his first varsity start. Even the weather was good.

The thing Upton was most pleased about, however, was a little less tangible. Upton was pleased with how the team worked together as a unit and not as individuals.

"Salvador's playing well right now," Upton said. "He's turned it up the last few games. He's turned it up around the net, but more importantly, he's playing very unselfishly."

Upton said he and his coaches have been telling players to trust their teammates, to get the ball to the proper place because when you do, things happen.

"The kids really stepped it up. They worked hard and they worked together as a team," he said.

Castro put the Rams on the board with 12:46 left in the first half, maneuvering around the goalie and then drilling the ball to the near side of the net. Castro's second goal was a thing of beauty. Seven minutes into the second half, younger brother Javier took a corner from the left side and sent it across the net, where Salvador headed the ball in.

Sophomore Yabesi Musema made it 3-0 midway through the half when he shot the ball as the Revere goalie came out to challenge him. The ball went off the goalie, but the deflection hit the right post and deflected into the net as Musema charged in to finish off the play.

The final goal of the night, Castro's third, came off a free kick from the left side of the field that Castro sent into the top left corner, just beyond the reach of the goalie.

"It was a tough loss," Revere coach Nik Tower said, "but I was proud of the way they played."

Tower said his team has some things to work on.

"We've got to be stronger in the midfield with the ball in the air," he said. "We have to be more physical and quicker."

Castro has been on a tear the past few games, scoring three last night and two in the previous game against Saugus for 10 this season.

Upton said it was a tough first half, but the Rams had a few breaks in the second half and took advantage.

"Revere's one of those teams you know is going to be a factor (over the course of the season)," Upton said.

Upton said the defense did a nice job supporting Saranteas in his first start.

"He did a great job and as a team, I thought we really supported him," Upton said.

Classical is 3-2-1 and Revere is 1-3-1.

By Jerry DiStefano / For the Item

The Classical boys soccer team shared the wealth and had five different players score against Saugus, as the Rams defeated the Sachems 6-1 at Saugus Thursday night.

Classical coach Rob Upton was very happy with his team's performance.

"My team was able to jump out early on and that set the tone for the rest of the game. All my guys were unselfish today and that's great to see," Upton said.

Classical (3-2-1) was up 5-0 at the half and never looked back. Leading the way for the Rams was Salvador Castro (2 goals, 1 assist). Yabesi Musema was more than just a sidekick (1 goal, 3 assists). Angel Canales, Ericson Rodriguez and Jesus Viveros scored one goal each.

 By Jerry DiStefano / For The Item

Salvador Castro was a one-man wrecking crew for the Classical boys soccer team on Tuesday, netting a second-half hat trick to give the Rams a 3-0 win over Winthrop at Winthrop.

Classical coach Rob Upton was happy with his team's performance, especially in the second half.

"We had many opportunities early and could not cash in on them. I was glad to see my team keep the aggression up and capitalize on their scoring chances in the second half," Upton said.

It was 0-0 going into the second half. Castro scored his first goal on a penalty kick early in the second half. Midway through the second half, he added another goal to give the Rams a 2-0 cushion. Castro scored again in the closing moments of the game for the hat trick.

The Rams' Javier Castro, Joe Field and Angel Banales all had strong performances at midfield. Classical is now 2-2-1.
 

 Published on Tuesday, September 13, 2011 By Matthew Roy / For The Item

The Lynn Classical boys soccer team bounced back from Saturday's loss to St. Mary's in the Lynn City Tournament championship game with a convincing 5-0 win over Marblehead at Piper Field on Monday.

"The guys played really well (Monday)," Classical coach Rob Upton said. "We moved the ball really well."

Salvador Castro scored twice to lead the Ram (1-1-1) offense. Abdoulaye Bah, Javier Castro and Jesus Diveros also had goals. Don Gomes and Salvador Castro split the shutout in net.

"We are starting to come together a little bit," Upton said.