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Sports

Reporters Notebook: Boys Soccer Keeps Championship Hopes Alive

A look at some of the latest news and notes from the Needham Rockets.

It’s been an exciting past couple of days in the town of Needham, as their hometown Rockets varsity soccer teams have experienced a great deal of success in the MIAA Division I South tournaments.

Here’s a recap of the past few games, and updates on both teams, as well as some more exciting sports news pertaining to Needham High School.    

Boys Soccer Advances to MIAA Division I South Semi-Finals

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The boys varsity soccer team kicked off their quest for a fourth state championship on Monday evening, Nov. 7 at with an against King Phillip, which was followed up by a dramatic come-from-behind win against Silver Lake in overtime on Wednesday, Nov. 9.

Both opposing coaches, King Phillip’s Kip Lewis and Silver Lake's Dan Correia, spoke highly of Don Brock’s talented bunch, praising Needham’s offensive and defensive play.

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“[Needham] moves the ball quickly. Their game plan is they win the ball back, they relieve the pressure with one pass, and they look to get the ball on Mac [Steeves’] foot and from there, he makes everything else happen,” Lewis said. “When [Mac] has success, they’ll have success, so it’s tough to stop a team like that.”

“They’re a great team,” Correia said. “Everyone’s kind of looking at them as the top team, and I couldn’t agree more. They’re a great team top to bottom, and I wish them the best of luck.”

The Rockets will on Friday, Nov. 11 at Medway High School for a 2:00 p.m. match. With a win, they’d face either Boston College High School or Nauset in the Division I South finals on Sunday, Nov. 13.

Oliver Ames Knocks Out Girls Soccer

The girls soccer team enjoyed two thrilling back-to-back wins in penalty kicks against both Brockton and before trounced the Rockets 5-0 in the Division I South quarterfinals on Wednesday, Nov. 9. Despite their loss to the Tigers and despite his team's youth, head coach Carl Tarabelli reiterated on Saturday that he is optimistic about a bright future for his program.

“Those kids didn’t quit,” Tarabelli said after his team’s first postseason win. “They’re so young, but they’re so mature.”

Big Day for Aubin and Sullivan

Thursday, Nov. 10 will be an exciting day for Needham’s Shelby Aubin and Ali Sullivan, who will be signing their NCAA letters of intent to play Division I athletics next year. Aubin will join Georgetown University’s women’s lacrosse team that finished their season 9-8, while Sullivan will join Providence College’s tennis team that finished their spring season with a 3-13 record.  

Football Looks to End Two-Game Losing Streak

For the first time this season, the Rockets have endured two back-to-back losses, and they are hopeful they’ll return to their winning ways with a victory against Newton North on Friday, Nov. 11 at .

The Tigers are coming off a gutsy 16-12 victory against Braintree, while the Rockets are still trying to decipher what exactly happened last weekend against Framingham. However, the Rockets need this win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Senior tight end and co-captain has mentioned numerous times that he’d like to end his Needham football career on the Gillette Stadium carpet, and the only way to keep that dream alive is by starting with a win against Newton North, and following it up with another win against Wellesley on Thanksgiving Day.

Needham will need some help along the way—with a Framingham loss to Weymouth on Friday—but they can control their own destiny with two wins.

Prediction: Needham snaps their two-game losing streak with a breakout performance by Riley on Senior Night. Needham 28-Newton North 7. (Look to Needham Patch for full coverage of the match-up.)

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