The Chelsea High boys soccer team ran into a powerful Brookline squad in the opening round of the MIAA Division 1 North Sectional State Tourney Monday afternoon at Chelsea Stadium and came out on the short end of a 6-1 decision.
“We had scouted Brookline in their game against Westford Academy on Saturday (a 4-0 shutout for Brookline), so we knew they had good size and would be tough to handle,” CHS assistant coach Evan Protasowicki said of Brookline, which has been ranked as high as 12th in Eastern Mass. this season and was seeded 13th in the D-1 North sectional. “They’re a very strong team and they got the edge on us right away.”
Brookline scored two early goals and added a third to take a 3-0 advantage at the half. A fourth Brookline goal shortly after the intermission was offset soon after by a Carlos Cruz marker for Chelsea, but Brookline came right back to make it 5-1 to eliminate any chance for a swing in momentum for the Red Devils.
“It was a tough way for our seniors to end their high school careers,” said Protasowicki, of “but we had an outstanding season and have a lot to be proud of. We won the CAC title with an 11-1-2 record and earned a fourth seed in the North Sectional.”
The Red Devils will hold one last practice together Thursday to bid their good byes to the graduating seniors.