BROCKTON, Mass. ---- On a wet and dreary Wednesday afternoon, the Massasoit men's soccer team captured its seventh-straight Region 21 Championship and 30th in program history by tying CCRI 3-3 at Warrior Field.
With the double-overtime tie, Massasoit (10-6-2) won the two-game season series, having defeated CCRI in Warwick, R.I., 3-0 back on October 1. The tie also avoided having a third and final meeting between the two schools.
As for the game, CCRI held a 1-0 cushion at the break despite multiple scoring chances put forth by the Warrior offense. CCRI's first half goal came less than two minutes in the contest, as a Massasoit defender was whistled for a foul inside the box, resulting in a penalty kick. CCRI's Delpio Alves cashed in on the opportunity, to give the Knights the early one-goal advantage.
CCRI held off the Warriors and kept its 1-0 lead intact until the 53rd minute. Leonardo Teixieria (Brockton) took a pass inside the box from Mivando Alves (Brockton), where he spun and rifled a shot into the back of the net to even the score.
Later on, Massasoit took the lead scoring goals in consecutive minutes, the 75th and 76th. Mario Barbosa (Holbrook) knocked in a rebound off a CCRI save, and a minute later Teixeira scored for the second time on the afternoon, his 20th of the season, on a perfect give-and-go from Maldini Da Fonseca (Brockton).
Unfortunately for the Warriors, despite leading 3-1 with 15 minutes to play, the game was far from over.
In the 78th minute, Osiel Moreno brought energy back to the CCRI sideline, when he scored off a through ball pass from Alves, pulling within a goal of Massasoit.
It appeared Massasoit would walk away with a 3-2 victory, but a shot that was saved by Massasoit poked out and CCRI's Cornelius Tay was there to score off the rebound with just 20 seconds left in regulation.
Battling the weather and darkness, neither team mustered up much of an offensive threat in either OT, as the game ended in a 3-3 tie.
Massasoit outshot CCRI, 34-9 for the match.
With the victory, the Warriors advance to the Northeast District Tournament set to be hosted Nov. 9-10 at the Region 19 Champion, yet to be determined, in New Jersey.
CITY OF CHAMPIONS: Massasoit won it's seventh-straight Region 21 Championship in men's soccer and 30th all-time in program history. Under head coach Rui Estrela, Massasoit has won 13 Region 21 Championships in 14 seasons. In addition, it is the 54th Region 21 Championship amongst all sports at Massasoit.
LEO REACHES 20 GOALS: With his two-goal performance vs CCRI, Leonardo Teixeira becomes the first Warrior to reach 20 goals in a season since Andrew Revanales netted 22 goals back in 2015.
