Somerville Soccer Team 1 Goal Shy of State Title

Somerville stopped short of state title game, 2-1; Needham hands GBL champs first loss Wednesday night for EMass crown

– Stephen Freker, Medford Daily Mercury

The magical ride to the top of the heap in MIAA Division 1 Soccer came to an abrupt end Wednesday night in Lynn for the Somerville High varsity boys soccer team.

Division 1 South #1 seed Needham handed Somerville its first loss of the season last night in a 2-1 heartbreaker of a loss for the Greater Boston League champion Highlanders.

Somerville is coached by well-known Medford School Committeeman George Scarpelli, who is also the former Medford High boys coach.

Coach Scarpelli, who also serves as the city of Somerville’s Recreation Director, led Somerville to a record of 20-1-2 this season, last night’s decision being the first loss.

Needham improved to a record of 20-1-3 with last night’s victory.

Somerville won the school’s first Division 1 North Sectional Championship Sunday when it beat Catholic Conference champ St. John’s Prep, 1-0, at the same field as last night’s game, Lynn’s Manning Field.

Needham, which has allowed just two goals in five state tourney games, including last night’s goal by Somerville, now advances to the Division 1 State Championship Game, Friday night at 7:00 p.m., at Worcester State.

Had Somerville won last night, Scarpelli is believed to be the first coach ever to take two different schools to a Division 1 boys state title game. Led by Tiago Delboni, Scarpelli led Medford High to a state final loss to Ludlow in 2003. Medford also finished 20-1-2 that season.