With the score tied at 1 after 90 minutes and two 10-minute overtimes, the Cambridge Rindge and Latin boys’ soccer team was exhausted, but knew it had a job to finish.
Most soccer players see penalty kicks as a nightmare, but the Falcons saw opportunity against Lexington. Co-captain Rhys Brown, Angel Nunez, Jamilsom Parker and Xavi Mir, all seniors, each drove home their penalty kicks, and sophomore goalkeeper Winslow Lively saved the second one from Lexington. That put CRLS ahead 4-2. The team watched as Lively faced his fourth shot, bounded to the top right corner of the net and pushed the ball into open air.
There was a sharp moment of silence before the team ran to embrace Lively, confirming their win, followed by Cambridge students rushing onto the field to celebrate with the team.
“It was incredible, there’s not really much to describe it with,” Lively said. “This was my first state (playoff) game, so I got into the flow, played just like I would in a regular game, and did a little bit extra in the end to save it all.”
That kept Cambridge undefeated at home this season, and into its first Sweet Sixteen appearance in nearly two decades.
All the scoring was in the first half, with a quick goal from the Minutemen followed by a Cambridge header from senior captain Giacomo Cotta-Ramusino Zambotti, set up by Xavi Mir off a corner kick.
The 9th-seeded Falcons threatened multiple times in the second half through Rhys Brown, his brother Michael, and sophomore Mathis Asnake. On the defensive end, Lively and senior defender Angel Nunez made several plays to keep the Falcons in the game until the penalty kicks. Lively made a big save with two minutes left in the second overtime to keep CRLS alive.
For the senior captains this was a new kind of special. “We’ve always been the team that’s been out in the first round, giving high-fives at the end, crying,” said Michael Brown, a co-captain along with his brother. “It was a great feeling to be out here with my brothers being seniors, big senior class. I just love being with them, and I love dancing with them.”
Head coach Niko Emack (disclosure: Emack is a member of Cambridge Day’s board), said that goal keeper coach Noah Lawless, 23, has been a huge asset to the team, and credited him for Lively’s success. Lawless praised Lively, saying “I’m incredibly proud of Winslow. It’s not really something you can teach. It’s just straight instinct, and he just saved us today.”
Emack also named Nunez, a Dual County League All-Star, the man of the match. “Angel was instrumental to our win,” Emack said. He noted that in addition to scoring his penalty kick, Nunez marked Lexington’s striker the whole game.
In the quarterfinals CRLS will play 8th-seeded Weymouth, which beat Plymouth North 3-0.
This story is part of a partnership between Cambridge Day and the Boston University Department of Journalism.
A stronger
Please consider making a financial contribution to maintain, expand and improve Cambridge Day.
We are now a 501(c)3 nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible.
Please consider a recurring contribution.
CRLS Girls’ Varsity also won their first match on penalties, last Monday. Incredible game, as our goalie made a save, then scored on her own kick! On Thursday, they play the number 2 seed in Division 1, Bishop Feehan.