New Bedford fails to finish in Southeast Conference loss to Brockton
NEW BEDFORD — Scoring has been at a premium for the New Bedford High boys soccer team this year.
Through the first seven games, the Whalers have managed just four goals.
“Psychologicaly, it’s getting to us,” said New Bedford head coach John Macaroco. “We had our chances, but we just can’t finish and that confidence is not there.”
In a Southeast Conference matchup against visiting Brockton on Tuesday night, New Bedford was held off the scoreboard for the third time this season as the Whalers lost 2-0.
“Everything is going against us right now,” Macaroco said. “Balls are not bouncing our way.”
The Whalers had plenty of scoring opportunities and took eight shots on net in the game, but came up empty handed.
“We keep telling them you ain’t going to put a hole in the net,” Macaroco said. “Just place it in the goal or make the goalie do something.
“We’re a good young team. We can move the ball. We moved the ball against Durfee and had a good result there and we moved the ball against Brockton. We just need the final pass, the final shot. Hopefully that will start changing and we’ll start racking up some wins.”
Led by senior co-captains Gabriel Peixoto and Carter Barbosa, New Bedford’s defense is allowing just one goal per game with two shutouts.
“Those two guys are doing unbelievable this year,” Macaroco said. “We’ve been in games because of them. We’ve been defending a lot, but the chemistry is still not there. It’s game seven and I still don’t have a clear starting 11. Come next game, it’s who is in and does well.”
Macaroco said he was impressed with the play of junior Michael O’Leary on Tuesday night.
“He hasn’t played much but he went in and did a great job against an SEC rival team,” Macaroco said. “He did very well and he looked poised out there. We talk about playing well and getting PT and he’s going to be getting a little more of that.
“We just need one or two guys to pick up the game offensively and carry the team a little bit.”
VOTE: High School Boys Athlete of the Week for Sept. 16-22
HOW IT HAPPENED
Midway through the first half, Brockton scored its first goal on a shot by junior Alexandro Moreira to go out front 1-0.
It stayed that way until the 64th minute when junior Anthony Pina Santos headed in a corner from Moreira to make it 2-0.
The Whalers took five shots in the game’s final nine minutes.
New Bedford junior goalie Nelson Molina made eight saves.
“We have a whole new team,” said Molina. “We’ve had a lot of new players come in. We've struggled at the beginning of the season, but we’re getting better.
“We do have a lot of potential. We have a lot of good players.”
WHAT IT MEANS
The loss drops New Bedford to 2-3-2 and 2-1-1 in the SEC. The Whalers travel to Nauset on Thursday. … With the win, Brockton improves to 5-1-1 overall and 3-1 in the SEC. The Boxers host Barnstable on Thursday night.
VOTE: High School Girls Athlete of the Week for Sept. 16-22
COACH’S CORNER
“This is the first game we’ve worked together as a team. We fought on both sides of the ball.” — Macaroco.
NOTES
The Whalers feature eight sophomores, including Carlentz Jean Piere, who has scored two of New Bedford’s four goals this season.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford boys soccer shut out by Brockton
