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Crusaders Win MIAA Division 2 State Title!

Senior Nate Pomeroy scored both goals as Groton-Dunstable trumped Medway, 2-0 to win the MIAA Division 2 State Championship for the second consecutive year. It is the program's fourth state title (1999, 2001, 2011).

After starting the season 1-2-1 GD went 17-0-3 in its last 20 games.

Crusaders (18-2-4) dominated in the sectionals outscoring St. Bernard's, Grafton, Milbury and Tyngsborough 22-2. Against West champion, Belchertown, and South Champ, Medway(19-4-1) in finals, Pomeroy scored the winning goals.

The talented senior, who will attend Brown University next fall, has quietly responded the way good players do, on the field, between the lines. He finished the season with 28 goals and 23 assists and has a career total 143 points.

Pomeroy put Crusaders on the board in the 23rd minute of the opening half, sending a cross kick that deflected off Medway keeper Brian Kokoszka's leg. Senior midfielder Ben Lutz, had the assist. "I decided to hit it across and, luckily for me, it hit off his leg," Pomeroy said. "It was a real nice finish. I thought that got us going. It was great to get that momentum early in the game. It shook them."

"One of the strengths of the team is depth and familiarity with the system we play," said Coach Sean Wisbey in the pre-season. Again it was that experienced back line, Adam Kmetz, Eric Stone, Paolo Filho and Mike Keating that made for very few good looks for the Mustangs.  

Wisbey used juniors Connor Maguire, Jamie Bailey and senior John Nyilis in goal this season with Nyilis getting much of the of the work. "I let Maguire (8 saves) come along this season and he's peaking at the right time. I can't say anything negative about Nyilis. He had a great year."

Medway almost evened the score minutes later after a throw-in. Justin Kaplan blasted a point blank shot that Maguire somehow got in front of and smothered with his body to keep Crusaders'1-0 advantage. "It was a bang- bang chance (Kaplan) but there was Connor stepping up and making the big save," exuded Wisbey.

Back Adam Kmetz saved a goal clearing a ball in front of Maguire. "The defense saved me a couple of times," added Maguire

Crusaders tacked on a second goal with 23:35 left in the game. Mike Keating blasted a free kick from 35-40 yards out that Pomeroy tracked down and headed past the Mustangs' Brian Kokoszka.

  "I can't say enough about Doug Rosa and Alex Murphy in the middle of the field," Wisbey said. "Doug played injured in the second half and some of the first half, but we were able to close off the middle against them."

"I didn't feel as much pressure as last year," said Pomeroy. "We came in (to the tournament) with a decent record but luckily we had experienced the atmosphere and knew what to expect."

  "This is such a great group of guys," continued Pomeroy. "I was surrounded by talented players. Matt (Tornaritis) is so much fun to play with. He has excellent technique, speed, sees the field well, faces up and hits little passes to open space for teammates."

Asked how he prepared the night before the state final Pomeroy replied, "It was a quiet night. No partying. My AP English teacher said that if we went to a play, we would get an extra five points on our assignment." So he and a couple of friends took in Les Miserables in Nashua and were home early.

"They (Medway) are a good team but we were not nervous coming in," said Wisbey. "We played a difficult schedule, were experienced, knew what to expect and got the results we wanted.

"I think we might end up being a better overall team than a year ago. If this group molds together, it could turn out to be something special," Wisbey said in pre-season.   Prophetic!

 

 

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