Men’s Soccer Blanks CCRI, Punches Ticket To Region Finals

LINCOLN, R.I. ---- The Massasoit men's soccer team upped its intensity in the second half leading to a 3-0 road victory at CCRI on Wednesday. With the win, Massasoit secured its spot in the Region XXI Championship on Nov. 1.

Deadlocked in a scoreless tie at the half, Massasoit started things off with a bang in the second half.  Joel Lobo (Brockton) intercepted a pass from the CCRI back line and buried a shot just 30 seconds into the stanza.

Lobo's goal set the pace for the rest of the half, as Pepe Vieira (Brockton) lofted a shot over the keeper's hands in the 50^th minute. The Warriors would add an insurance goal in the 70^th minute, when Manny Fortes (Brockton) tapped in a pass from Garrett Arruda (Fall River).

"In the first half we did not play well," head coach Rui Estrela said. "We came out flat and not ready to play. We controlled the ball but were not putting things together and playing as individuals.

"In the second half we played with intensity. We moved the ball quicker and played to feet and everything fell into place for us."

In net, tallying his third shutout of the season, and the fourth for the team was keeper Andre Reis (Fall River). The sophomore finished with four saves in the clean sheet.

BACK TO THE FINALS: With the victory, Massasoit will return to the Region XXI Championship game, slated for Nov. 1. Last year, the Warriors defeated rival Dean College 2-1 in the title game.

NEXT UP: Massasoit treks to Newark, N.J., to play in the Essex County Tournament. The Warriors will battle Globe Institute on Saturday and Burlington County on Sunday.