Stars shine bright in H.S. soccer All-Star game

QUINCY — When New Bedford’s senior forward Simplice Tagne started playing soccer as an eighth grader, it was just a good way to keep busy and stay active.

But for Tagne, a native of Cameroon, his skills kept evolving to put him on a select stage that he never imagined was possible.

Tagne not only appeared in the 47th annual Eastern Mass. Coaches Association All-Star Game Friday, but he scored the lone goal of the contest with a header off a corner in the 24th minute to give his South squad a 1-0 victory over the North at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

“I’m thankful for this opportunity,” Tagne said. “I’ve been waiting for it since freshman year.”

Tagne wasn’t the only star in the win as Norwell’s Alec Pettit was sensational in net, making 12 saves to record the shutout.

Pettit was only one of two sophomores playing — the other being his counterpart in Pentucket goalie Tyler Correnti (11 saves) — but it didn’t faze Pettit as he used an aggressive style to continually thwart the North attack, including stopping a blast from the top of the box from Framingham’s Gray Pierson with eight minutes left.

“I knew I was going to be one of the younger kids,” Pettit said. “My mindset coming in was just try to perform, see what I can do and try to do my best.”

Pettit also received help from a stout back line anchored by Tagne’s New Bedford teammate Jacob Ramos, Whitman-Hanson’s Stephen Kelly and Dylan Barger of Mashpee.

The All-Star game, which was named after former legendary Needham coach Don Brock, was one of three such matchups that took place and offered the chance to honor the 108 Eastern Mass. all-stars in attendance.

“It’s just a great day of soccer for all the coaches, the players and the parents,” said EMSCA board member and Archbishop Williams coach Brian Mitchell. “It was nice to lace the boots up one more time in the fall and cap off their great high school seasons.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/37JgeWi