PEABODY — The Bishop Fenwick boys soccer team finished its regular season Tuesday night with a 2-0 win over Matignon at Donaldson Stadium.
“Matignon switched things up from the first time we played them,” Fenwick coach Tony Enos said. “Their best players were playing up top then and we ended up winning 9-3. They made some really good adjustments tonight.”
With the game scoreless at halftime, the Crusaders were able to adjust to Matignon’s defense and score two second-half goals.
“We had a few chances but they did a very nice job defensively in the first half,” Enos said. “They really brought their defense in, they were playing eight or nine guys inside the box so we just had trouble breaking them down.
“We made some changes at halftime,” Enos added. “What we decided to do was counter attack more out of the midfield and leave some room behind their back line rather than take them on there. That worked pretty well and we managed to score a few goals.
Another adjustment for the Crusaders was taking starting goalkeeper Brian Harrington out of net for the second half and move him up top, while Adam Josephson stepped in at goalie.
The change payed off quickly as Harrington helped create the first goal of the game. Harrington played a loose ball and sent a bouncing pass to junior Sean Kern who finished the play with a header to put Fenwick ahead 1-0.
The goal was Kern’s 19th on the season, a new school record Enos said.
“He’s been playing club soccer for me for years as well,” Enos said of Kern. “When he came here, the second game of his freshman year he tore his ACL. He lost his whole freshman year and last year he was coming back so it was more of a recovery year. This year he’s got his form back. He’s a pretty special player.”
Later in the second half Tarek Nabbout added another goal and the Crusaders defense was able to hold on to the 2-0 win.
The Crusaders ended the regular season at 9-5-4 and now wait for the state tournament pairings (to be announced Wednesday morning).
“I think the team is strong,” Enos said. “We do an awful lot with video. So if we face someone that we have seen before in the tournament it gives us an advantage. Even if we haven’t seen a team before we will go back and take a look at the video and see what we have done well and what kind of adjustments we need to make.
“I expect good things,” Enos added. “The second half of the season was definitely better than the first half. We came out pretty strong in the second half with six wins so I was pretty pleased with that. I hope to go deep into the tournament.”
BOYS SOCCER
KIPP 3, Boston Collegiate 1
At Boston Collegiate, the Panthers were led by two goals from Angel Hernandez in the first round of the MSCAO tournament. Kenny De Leon scored one goal and dished two assists. The Panthers visit Roxbury Prep Thursday afternoon (4:30).
Saugus 5, Greater Lawrence 1
A hat trick from Jonathan Rodrigues propelled the Sachems in their regular season finale. Ryan Pugh scored two goals. Saugus finished the regular season at 12-6 and awaits the state tournament pairings.
GIRLS SOCCER
Swampscott 6, Haverhill 1
Haley Bernhardt sealed the regular season with a hat trick. Mackenzie Kearney and Maddy Foutes each tallied one goal and one assist. Emmy Laundry scored one goal.
Goalie Nikki Rosa made four saves.
Swampscott (12-4-1) awaits the state tournament pairings.
Winthrop 1, English 0
Pamela Rosales made 10 saves in English’s final game of the season. Kaylee Smith Whelton, Abdely Merida and Annika Ueland played well for the Bulldogs.