The Division 2 12-and-under boys soccer state champions are Skylah Dias, Swansea; Noah Bell, Weymouth; Andrew Stevens, Marshfield; Kevin O’Shea, Quincy; John Aguiar, Somerset; Liam Lenihan, Rockland; Tyler Melo, Stoughton; Dario Mendez, Halifax; Evan Sheehan, Weymouth; Andy Stark, Weymouth; Owen O’Malley, Marshfield; Will Kiley, Marshfield; Cameryn Brenner, Plymouth; Nick Lacerda, Berkley; Kyle Cardoso, Berkley; Head Coach, Rod Mendez, Halifax; Assistant Coach, Martin Stevens, Marshfield
Playing among the most talented youth soccer teams in the state, the Massachusetts Youth Soccer District 2 select 12-and-under squad, a group of 15 players predominantly from the South Shore, recently won the state title, defeating its counterpart from District 3.
District 2, which includes Halifax, Kingston, and Plymouth among its many towns, went 4-1 in the playoffs, winning the championship, 1-0, in a tightly contested game that was finally decided in the penalty kick overtime session.
John Aguiar, Tyler Melo, Andrew Stevens and Skylah Dias all scored on penalty kicks, while goalie Will Kiley made a terrific outstretched save with his left leg on the second shot he faced in the PK round.
In a friendly, sweet revenge kind of a way, the win was extra special in that District 2 had lost to District 3 twice during the regular season, both games by 1-0 counts.
“Absolutely it felt special, they’re a tough team,” District 2 head coach Rod Mendez, of Halfax, said of the District 3 opponent, whose players hail from such competitive soccer towns as Framingham, Natick, Needham, and Brookline. “It was a nail-biter going back and forth.”
Mendez and assistant coach Martin Stevens of Marshfield were particularly proud of their team’s style of play, which Mendez says focuses on passing, possession, and pressure.
“Other coaches, referees and parents from opposing teams would come up to us and say how our style of play was so attractive to watch in a game being played by 12-year olds,” Mendez said.
In that light, Mendez said he values the assists made on each goal more than the goals themselves.
“It’s all about team,” Mendez said. “I treasure the ability of those who can make the assists to make the scorer shine.”
And shine the whole team did. District 2 posted a stunning 10-3 regular season record, before rolling in the postseason with a 4-1 mark to win the crown in the 90-degree heat at Citizens Bank Fields in Lancaster.
From day one, it was smooth sailing for District 2.
“Getting that kind of chemistry in that short period of time is magical,” said Mendez, who has coached both Halifax travel and club teams, the latter of which play to the equivalent high competition of AAU baseball. The coach said almost all of his players play both travel and club soccer.
Added Dario Mendez, the son of the coach, who plays midfield, “I thought we passed and possessed the ball very well. I liked the first day of practice, meeting all the players, getting to know them. Everyone was nice to each other, and we worked together real well.”
For winning the state title, the District 2 team was awarded tickets to a New England Revolution game at Gillette Stadium, where the scoreboard flashed a congratulatory message to the local youth championship team.
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