Needham Knocks Off King Phillip, 4-1

It’s been roughly three years since the Needham Rockets won their first-round MIAA Division I South playoff match, and on Monday evening, Don Brock’s crew made sure their season continued, as they defeated No. 20 King Philip, 4-1 under the lights at .

“We played well enough to win. They’re an aggressive team, which we knew, and they didn’t stop. We scored some nice goals—some beautiful goals, a matter of fact—and anytime you get 4-1, especially the last two years, we’ve gone one-and-out, so we’re glad to get over that hump,” Needham head coach Don Brock said.

Needham set the tone midway through the first half, as sophomore Harry Swartz and juniors Nolan Brady and Mac Steeves compiled three goals in a span of 20 minutes to give the Rockets a commanding 3-0 lead at intermission.

King Philip responded during the opening minutes of the second half, as junior John Tiller scored the Warriors' only goal of the game before senior co-captain Max Swartz netted Needham’s fourth and final goal of the contest to secure the win for the Rockets.

“They’re a good offensive team,” King Phillip’s senior goalkeeper James Murphy said. “I felt we had some good opportunities to score, but we just couldn’t get the ball in the net, and they just took advantage of their [offensive possessions].” 

“They’re just a good team all around, too, but we just figured we’re going to come out here, we’re going to play to win, and we’re just going to go for it. We weren’t going to pack it in and just play defense the whole time. That’s not what we’re all about,” King Phillip head coach Kip Lewis said. “We’ll be back next year. We’ve made the tournament four years in a row, and we’re looking to do it again next year.”               

The Rockets will return to Memorial Field for the final time this season on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 6:00 p.m., as they host No. 5 Silver Lake.