March 29, 2024

Boys Soccer: Stellar Second Half isn't Enough for Dighton-Rehoboth

Apponequet 4, Dighton-Rehoboth 3

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DIGHTON - If the Dighton-Rehoboth boys soccer teams wants to make a run at the MIAA playoffs, they need to play every game from here on out like they played the second half of Monday’s South Coast Conference match with Apponequet.

The Falcons scored twice in the second half and played stout defense, but the stellar second half wasn’t enough to overcome a shaky first half in Monday’s 4-3 defeat.

“It’s a tale of two teams,” D-R coach Steve Kulpa said after Monday’s match. “In the first half, we didn’t play with enough emotion and not enough heart. In the second half, we played significantly better with more passion, more heart and a sense of urgency.”

The loss dropped the Falcons to 3-6-2 on the season. They need to finish .500 or better to qualify for the postseason and have six games remaining, starting with Wednesday’s home game vs. GNB Voc-Tech.

“We got to go on a run and the kids understand that,” Kulpa said. “These kids will never quit an they’ll battle right down to the last minute of the last game.”

REPORTERTODAY.COM MVP: Junior Matt Duarte scored on a penalty kick and assisted on Marshall Morgado’s second-half goal to lead the Falcons attack. “Matt Duarte really shined,” Kulpa said. “He worked his tail off out there.”

TWO HALFS, TWO TEAMS: Apponequet led 3-1 at halftime thanks on two goals from Michael Magalhaes and one from Brady Sunderland. The Falcons turned it around in the second half, scoring twice and collecting more scoring opportunities than the Lakers. “We did control the second half but it wasn’t enough to overcome our deficiencies in the first half,” Kulpa said. “We really stepped up in the second half.”

APPONEQUET COACH TOM COUET: “We were lucky enough to go up early because you can never take D-R for granted. It’s a good athletic school with a good coach and talented players and I was telling my kids that they were going to get back in the game so make sure you finish. We played some good team soccer. It was a hard-fought game on both sides.”

DEFENSE GETTING IT DONE: Kulpa had plenty of praise for his defense after Monday’s game, crediting Cam LeBlanc, Jameson Hughes, Steve Morgado and Bryce Downs in front of sophomore goalie Mason Kulpa. “I love my defense,” he said. “They’re outstanding.”

BALL IN THE NET: Joining Duarte and Morgado in the scoring column for Dighton-Rehoboth was sophomore Kevin Smith, who tallied a first-half goal on an assist from Hughes. When Morgado found the net, he outsprinted an Apponequet defender to the ball and fired a hard shot off another Laker defender and into the net. “Marshall was really working hard out there. When he’s dialed in, good things happen,” Kulpa said.

QUICK HITS: Tate Campeau scored Apponequet’s second-half goal. He fired a shot in which Mason Kulpa made a diving save, but was right there for the rebound for an easy tally. … The Falcons have only two seniors on the roster. “We’re a young team,” coach Kulpa said. “There are great things ahead of us.” … Apponequet’s Shane Previti collected three assists. … The Lakers improved to 7-2-1 (7-1-1 SCC) but coach Couet said the Lakers aren’t thinking about a conference championship. “We take it one game at a time,” he said. “I’m very happy with the kids’ effort and how they’ve been playing so far.” … LeBlanc was issued a yellow card after a sliding tackle late in the second half near the goalie box. The Lakers’ shot on the following free kick sailed wide right… James Lobban and Reece Cordeiro drew praise from Kulpa after the game, with coach saying they were “dialed in.” … The two junior varsity teams played to a 0-0 tie while the varsity game was going on.

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