SPRINGFIELD – Agawam boys’ soccer sophomore midfielder Nick Malerba launched an amazing high-arcing shot – a 35-yard floater that cleared the underside of the crossbar and found the back of netting in the 12th minute.
For the remaining 68 minutes, the Brownies and Westfield Bombers played to a stalemate.
The lone goal stood as the game-winner as No. 4 Agawam survived a highly-contested, supremely physical game against top-seeded Westfield, 1-0, in a MIAA West Sectional Division 1 semifinal Thursday night at Central High School.
Westfield (12-4-3) appeared to dominate at times, but just never could break through with a score. Agawam (13-3-4) held on in the final minutes to earn a championship berth.
Westfield controlled the tempo through the game’s first 10 minutes, getting the better of Agawam but came away without a score to show for it.
Westfield senior Matt Butera (3) bobs and weaves through the Agawam defense during a West Sectional Division 1 boys’ soccer semifinal Thursday night at Central High School in Springfield. (Photo by Marc St. Onge)
Matt Butera fed his Bomber teammates several times, one of which nearly resulted in the game’s first score.
In the 10th minute, Butera launched the ball into the middle of the penalty box from just inside the sideline about 15 yards out. A teammate got a foot on it, striking the ball toward the Agawam net. The ball smacked the underside of the crossbar, rebounding out into the box. The Bombers delivered a couple of follow-up attempts but Brownies’ goalie Sean Moore protected the net incredibly well.
In a complete 180, Agawam shot out of nowhere to crack through with the first score. The Brownies, with Malerba’s desperation floater, took a 1-0 advantage.
Agawam attempted to make it a two-goal lead late in the first half on a laser from Luis Nieves, but Westfield junior goalie Ian Saltmarsh made the save.
Westfield had several opportunities to score in the first 20 minutes of the second half. The Bombers had three corner kicks turned away, another shot skimmed the top of the crossbar, and Agawam broke up a scrum out in front of its net by clearing the ball.
Butera had another chance on a direct kick in the 65th minute from about 30 yards out, but the kick smacked the backside of an orange jersey. The Bombers also had some other chances deep in Brownies’ territory but just could not convert.
