McCann Tech Tops Drury, Continues Unbeaten Streak

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – Rocco Cellana had a hat trick Tuesday for the McCann Tech boys soccer team, which pulled away late for a 4-1 win over Drury in the second meeting of the city rivals.

 

Cellana scored the go-ahead goal in the eighth minute of play.

 

And after Drury rallied to make it a 2-1 game in the second half, Cellana scored twice in the final 12 minutes to provide the final margin.

 

McCann Tech coach Stephen McAllister said that the Hornets started the game strong but then had trouble moving the ball out of the back to the midfield and into the offensive third.

 

“Our defensive mids and [center attacking midfielders] were not pushing it the way I like them to push it,” he said. “But, I was actually thankful that Drury called a timeout … and I told them what needed to happen.

 

“And they didn’t disappoint. They went back out there and were in the positions they were supposed to be in, and we put some more goals on the board.”

 

McAllister said sometimes it is as simple as providing a reminder to a team that has run off a 7-1-4 record after losing its opener back on Sept. 4.

 

“We just have to stay focused,” he said. “And we’ve been struggling the last couple of games. We lost one of our players to a broken leg [at Hopkins Academy], and it’s had a huge effect on these guys.

 

“But they’re still trying to push forward for him, and hopefully we keep playing well the rest of the season to make him happy.”

 

Zach Howland set up Cellana for the game’s first goal with 32 minutes, 6 seconds left in the first half.

 

With 8:12 on the clock, Howland provided an assist to Brennan Vallieres, who gave the Hornets a 2-0 lead at half-time.

 

Drury started to generate some chances in the early stages of the second half and cashed in when senior Matt Howland scored his first goal with an assist from Jorge Bond in the 54th minute.

 

After scoring the goal, the Blue Devils continued to apply pressure, forcing McCann Tech keeper Ben Harris to make some tough saves, including one on a try by Bond from 19 yards that Harris leapt to punch over the crossbar for a Drury corner kick.

 

“We had chances,” Drury coach John Jacobbe said. “It was a great shot by Jorge, and the goalie came up big. We had four or five corner kicks, and we couldn’t score on one.

 

“I thought we played a great second half. After [McCann’s] third goal, we had a letdown, and that’s natural. And it was disappointing because we were so close.”

 

Cellana gave the Hornets some breathing room with an unassisted goal on a counter with 11:52 left to play. He then capped the scoring by converting a centering pass from the left wing by Ian Haig two minutes later.

 

“He’s a phenomenal player, as long as he doesn’t let it get in his head when he makes a mistake,” McAllister said of Cellana. “Other than that, he’s on point. I’ve got to get on him to settle him down. This was, I think, his second or third hat trick this year.”

 

McCann Tech finishes the regular season on Friday at home against Pittsfield.

 

But that will be far from the end of the road for the Hornets, who are headed to the State Vocational Tournament, Western Massachusetts Class C Tournament and Division 5 State Tournament in the next couple of weeks.

 

“We’re definitely looking forward to it,” McAllister said. “It’s going to be fun trying to juggle these three tournaments. I’m glad to see we’re going to make the state voc. … Hopefully the games don’t conflict with each other and we get ample rest in between and we push forward in all three tournaments.”

 

Drury (1-11-2) will not have any playoffs this fall, but Jacobbe wants his team to make the most of its opportunities in the remaining games against other non-qualifiers for Western Mass.

 

“Halfway through the year, we knew our win-loss record wasn’t where we wanted,” He said. “We played some tremendous games. We had two great ties against Mount Everett. But we just haven’t been able to put anything completely together this year.

 

“So, about eight games ago, every game became our championship game. … Whoever we play in the next game, it’s a championship game. And then, after that, our last game of the year, the last time you put on a uniform if you’re senior, it’s a championship game. You’ve got to get up for all eight championship games, just for our self pride.”