Gateway controls the ball with Granby shadowing the play Tuesday night. (Photo by Chris Putz)
HUNTINGTON – All eyes for the Gateway Regional High School boys’ soccer team have been on two-time defending Western Massachusetts champion Hopkins Academy. The Gators will now get the chance to blur their foe’s field of vision.
Seventh-seeded Gateway stormed past No. 10 Granby 3-0 in the opening round of the WMass Division 4 tournament Tuesday night in Huntington.
Gateway’s Walker Lee had a hand in two goals, setting up the game’s first score in the 19th minute and scoring a controversial buzzer-beater just before the half.
Lee (9-7-2) dished off to Jeremy D’Angelis, who, from the right side of the penalty box, shot the ball into the opposite side of the goal for a 1-0 lead.
John Rooney took a quick pass from Josh Baillargeon on a bang-bang play to put
Gateway’s Josh Baillargeon (21) attempts to slip through the Granby defense as the goalie goes the ground to break up the play. (Photo by Chris Putz)
Gateway (9-5-3) up 2-0 with about three minutes remaining in the first half.
Just before the halftime buzzer sounded, Lee drilled a shot into the goal. The goal was initially waved off by both officials, sparking an uproar by the Gateway coaching staff. The officials convened near the sideline at midfield, and reversed the ruling, crediting Lee with the goal. Granby did not argue the call.
The second half produced little, if any, drama, save for a crossbar knocker from Granby with about 20 minutes remaining. Gateway goalie Spencer Rock (4 saves) also knocked a couple of shots away.
“We knew we had to come out strong,” Lee said. “This is a huge win for us.”
Said Gateway coach Tim Gamble: “We moved the ball well in the first half and got some momentum. I thought Granby did a good job sticking with us … Now we have to have a sense of urgency going forward. Hopkins set the bar the last few years.”
The Gators will play at second-seeded Hopkins (12-3-3) Friday at 2 p.m.
