Wilton-Lyndeborough boys’ soccer enters playoffs strong

Wilton-Lyndeborough’s Korey Begley tracks down the ball as Hinsdale players pursue.

Wilton-Lyndeborough’s Korey Begley tracks down the ball as Hinsdale players pursue. BEN CONANT / BEN CONANT PHOTOGRAPHY

WLC goalkeeper Ben Jacob makes a leaping save in traffic. 

WLC goalkeeper Ben Jacob makes a leaping save in traffic.  BEN CONANT—BEN CONANT PHOTOGRAPHY

WLC's Arrion Murphy with the ball in the midfield. 

WLC's Arrion Murphy with the ball in the midfield.  BEN CONANT—BEN CONANT PHOTOGRAPHY

WLC's Vito Anzalone takes a free kick under the lights Thursday evening. 

WLC's Vito Anzalone takes a free kick under the lights Thursday evening.  BEN CONANT—BEN CONANT PHOTOGRAPHY

WLC's Colby Collins traps the ball in the midfield. 

WLC's Colby Collins traps the ball in the midfield.  BEN CONANT—BEN CONANT PHOTOGRAPHY

WLC's Zach Levesque secures the ball as Hinsdale's John Winter makes a bid for it.

WLC's Zach Levesque secures the ball as Hinsdale's John Winter makes a bid for it. BEN CONANT—BEN CONANT PHOTOGRAPHY

WLC goalkeeper Ben Jacob listens during the team's halftime discussion.

WLC goalkeeper Ben Jacob listens during the team's halftime discussion. BEN CONANT—BEN CONANT PHOTOGRAPHY

By BEN CONANT

For the Ledger-Transcript

Published: 10-29-2024 12:01 PM

The Wilton-Lyndeborough boys’ soccer team heads into the Division IV playoffs Wednesday after a strong finish to the regular season. WLC (6-6-4) has only lost once in its past seven games following Thursday night’s 0-0 tie with visiting sixth-seeded Hinsdale.

“We were hoping for a win for the last game of the season,” coach Dan Nelson said after the game. “The kids were excited, but you know what? I’m happy with the tie. We had a good, tough game. It’s an even rivalry whenever we play them.”

The Warriors/Pacers tie was their second of this season. Their meeting in Hinsdale on Oct. 9 was a 1-1 affair, but no one would break through for a score in Thursday’s defensive battle. Nelson attempted to counter Hinsdale’s quick-clearout strategy by applying more pressure, but the Warriors only put together a handful of chances.

“I tried to put more emphasis on the pressure when they tried to build out,” Nelson said. “The goalie would try to build out, but only when they possessed it. If we were coming down and it was a rolling ball, they didn’t mess with it. They cleared it. And that’s a very hard thing to build up on offense. They’re very strong on timing. They know where the ball’s going to go and they’ve got a good defensive wall. We couldn’t get through.”

The Pacers didn’t have much success breaking through, either, and the few times they did, there was no getting past WLC senior keeper Ben Jacob, who registered his sixth shutout of the season with a highlight diving save in the second half.

“He’s been the amazing saver,” Nelson said. “He’s been the rock of my team and I just love it.”

WLC also got strong contributions from Harry Krug, Colby Collins, Korey Begley and Nate Gill.

The Warriors will have a road game to open up the Division IV playoffs on Wednesday, likely traveling to Moultonborough or Littleton, depending on final seeding.

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“I told the team since day one that if we can make it to playoffs as a .500 team, that means we have a 50-50 chance of winning every game,” Nelson said. “And here we are at .500. So if you can make it 50-50, if you’re in the 50th percentile of the division, you can win any game.”