Drury, Mount Everett Boys Stalemate Again
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – Tuesday marked the second meeting between Drury and Mount Everett, and just like the first, it ended in a draw. This time, both teams were held scoreless in a true defensive battle.
It has been a tough season so far for the Blue Devils (1-6-1), but they showed early signs of turning things around with improved possession in the midfield. Drury was the stronger side in that department, but they lacked a finishing touch in the final third where it mattered most. Despite controlling stretches of possession, Drury didn’t record a shot on target until late in the first half.
The first real chance came from the visitors, who strung together a nice sequence that forced Drury goalkeeper Parker Rivard off his line to make a sliding save that pushed the ball wide. Rivard was the busier of the two keepers, largely due to Mount Everett’s ability to create shots against the run of play. He was called on several times throughout the match and came through with two or three key saves.
“I think team defense is all the way through, from the forwards to the keeper, but sometimes there were gaps that were too big,” Drury head coach John Jacobbe said. “Parker made two or three class saves and protected his box really well. We’ve had two shutouts in a row, and he’s been stepping up as a senior leader. It was good to see him make some great saves and keep the shutout, which was a team effort where everyone did their job.”
Mount Everett nearly broke the deadlock on the ensuing corner, striking the back post before Drury cleared their lines to keep things level heading into halftime.
Drury continued to dictate the midfield in the second half and began pushing their attack higher up the pitch, but neither side looked willing to budge. In the 65th minute, Ben Harrington had Drury’s best chance to score when Jorge Bond launched a long throw-in that Harrington headed off the crossbar.
As the match wore on, Mount Everett adjusted to Drury’s possession and found opportunities on the counterattack. Their best look came in the 69th minute, when a strong dribble down the sideline led to a cross that forced Rivard into a sharp tip save to preserve the clean sheet.
The game was a stark contrast from the first meeting, which finished 2-2, with both sides scoring in different halves. In that match, a late Drury comeback shifted momentum in their favor, and the Blue Devils hoped to build on that at home. But this time, the net eluded them.
“We pressured the midfield and stepped up big today,” Jacobbe said. “We’ve been trying to fill the gaps all season, and I think we did a better job today. We just need to keep improving and focus on getting wins. We gave ourselves a chance, but we need to continue working to put the ball in the net.”
Drury will look to flip the script Friday when it faces Hoosac Valley, hoping to avenge a 4-2 loss earlier this season to the Hurricanes.
For Mount Everett, the draw was their fifth of the year. The Eagles aim to break through with a win Friday when they host Pioneer Valley CICS.