PEABODY — The Peabody and Classical boys soccer teams battled in a Northeastern Conference matchup at Coley Lee Field Wednesday, but in the end the Tanners edged out a big 1-0 win.
“It was a great game,” Peabody coach Stan McKeen said. “It was hard played. We knew Classical only had one loss coming into (Wednesday). Our defense played really good. Defense was the difference in the game. I thought we moved the ball well and Classical moved the ball well at times. I thought we had better opportunities than they did and we needed a good win like this.”
Both teams had plenty of scoring chances throughout the night but a Classical handball in its own box proved costly in the second half. Edward Santos took the ensuing penalty kick and scored the lone goal. It was a big goal for both the Tanners and Santos, who made his season debut.
“We have struggled all year to put the ball in the net honestly,” McKeen said. “We had plenty of opportunities other than that too. We just couldn’t finish with the ball in front of the net, but we got that goal. (Santos) has been out all season. He came from Salem and broke his ankle back in May. He hasn’t been able to play until (Wednesday). He’s an excellent player.”
A handful of close scoring chances fell just short in a disappointing loss for the Rams.
“Overall, Peabody’s a tough team,” Classical coach Eric Moreno Jr. said. “They were going to run with us the whole game and they did. They’re a very physical team. But we had about five open nets and didn’t capitalize. I was telling my boys that it may come back to cost us and it did.
“Peabody scored on a handball in the box,” Moreno said. “Not much you can do about it but it’s a tough loss. Our defense played unbelievable. It was just finishing. The chances were there, it’s not like we didn’t have them. We just didn’t put the ball in the net and that’s how some nights go.”
Classical started the night with plenty of pressure up front. Fernando Gomez Godinez had a pair of great scoring chances in the first 10 minutes but Peabody’s defense made some nice plays.
The Tanners put together some nice chances next. Cairo Dalifour and Kyle Joyce each had possessions in front of the Rams’ net but defender Christopher Zelaya made a pair of big plays to keep Peabody off the board.
In the closing minutes of the half, Peabody just missed on a scoring chance after corner kick when a shot rang off the crossbar. Next, Classical came right back down the field with a breakaway chance from Jenner Robles Sandoval but Tanners goalkeeper Dominic Cunha made scrambling save to keep the game scoreless.
The second half was much of the same with both teams exchanging chances. With 19 minutes to play, Santos capitalized on his penalty kick goal to put Peabody ahead 1-0. The Tanners had a handful of other chances in the next few minutes, including another shot off the crossbar , but couldn’t put Classical out of the game.
But a pair of offsides calls hurt two Rams offensive chances in the final minutes. Classical also failed to capitalize on late corner and free kick chances and the Tanners held on for the shutout victory.
Both teams have some rest before another NEC matchup next. Peabody (4-2) travels to English Friday (4) while the Rams (7-2) hope to bounce back at home against Swampscott Saturday (1).