Post date: Nov 20, 2012 2:10:17 AM

Title Crusade complete

By Dan Keats / Div. 2 Boys Soccer

Sunday, November 18, 2012 - Updated 2 days ago

WORCESTER — The defense for Groton-Dunstable certainly knows when to step up its game.

The Crusaders allowed two goals in the postseason for the second straight year in repeating as Division 2 state champions with a 2-0 win over Medway at Worcester State University’s Coughlin Field yesterday.

Groton-Dunstable (18-2-4) allowed the Mustangs to get eight shots for the contest, only two of which provided much of a threat — a credit to a defense that returned largely intact from a year ago and the decisive decision making from goalkeeper Connor Maguire, who only needed to make three saves.

“He was so aggressive, everything back there was Maguire country,” senior defender Paolo Filho said about the junior coming off his line to claim through balls before they had a chance to get to their intended targets. “Every time the ball came through, he made it easy for us. All we had to do was shield the (attacker) and he would come out and pick it right up.”

Crusaders coach Sean Wisbey said that after the fourth game of the year, he shifted Mike Keating from center midfield, where he played in last year’s state final, to join the defensive trio of returnees Eric Stone, Adam Kmetz and Filho. The move ignited the team to a 17-0-3 stretch to close the season, including outscoring opponents 23-2 in the postseason.

Nate Pomeroy provided all of the offense for the Crusaders, scoring from a nearly impossible angle along the left end-line in the 18th minute. He ran onto a ball sent by Ben Lutz, and his shot deflected in off Medway goalkeeper Brian Kokoszka.

The title repeat celebration began in earnest when he headed in a Keating free kick from midfield in the 57th.

“This was Nate’s time to shine,” said Wiseby about the Brown commit. “I said to him in the beginning of the season when we started this journey that we lost some seniors that scored some big goals last year, this is going to be your moment.”

Medway (18-4-1) had its best chance shortly after G-D went in front, as Justin Kaplan managed to turn a Henry Cobb throw-in deep on the right side into a solid bid at the far post that Maguire smothered.

“We were a little bit too direct tonight,” said Medway coach Jeff Hallenbeck. “We went over it at halftime, we went over it in our timeout (in the second half). Our through balls were too direct and their goalie was reading it very well.”

The Mustangs were without two starters — forward Matt Coakley and midfielder Aidan Burke — while midfielder Adam Karacaoglu was limited following an injury in the semifinals.