Winchester Boys' Soccer Stays Perfect, Beats Belmont 2-1

A perfectly executed corner kick with about 22 minutes remaining proved to be the difference Tuesday evening, as the boys’ soccer team hung on to beat Belmont 2-1 to remain unbeaten on the season.

The home loss was Belmont’s first of the season, as the Marauders fell to 2-1-2 in the standings.

After a back-and-forth first half and beginning of the second, the teams found themselves knotted at 1-1 near the midway point of the second. However, that changed when Winchester midfielder Zach Samson lofted the pivotal corner just inside Belmont’s six-yard line and teammate Jonathan Redwine was there for the textbook header.

Redwine, the team’s tall sweeper, rose above a crowd to finish the play.

“You can’t teach height,” Winchester’s first-year coach, Kambiz Vatan, said after the game.

Belmont continued to put pressure on Winchester’s defense the rest of the game but ultimately couldn’t convert.

Both Paul Connor and James Cameron sent threatening balls into Winchester’s box off late set pieces, but Winchester’s goalkeeper, Andrew Shediac, handled both without much trouble. Cameron also made a late run down the sideline, but his cross was misplayed by a teammate in front of the goal. Belmont’s other late chance came when Christian Raymond attempted a bicycle kick from about 10 yards out, but his shot sailed wide.

Belmont coach Peter Guellnitz said he thought his team needed to create more chances throughout the game and move forward better as a team.

“We improved,” he said. “I mean, we’ve been improving since the beginning of the season, but not enough.”

Guellnitz’ team had 14 new faces to start the season.

Winchester also had a few late chances to expand its lead. Striker Connor Calnan headed a ball off the crossbar and later made a run past Belmont’s defense but shot the ball wide.

In the first half, Winchester’s Jeff Tilley scored on a rebound about 15 minutes into the game, as he beat Belmont goalkeeper Jeremy Lockett, who had just made an impressive save, to the far post.

With about 12 minutes remaining in the half, Belmont’s Ben Giber evened the score, at 1-1. Connor sent in a set piece from about 70 yards out, which rattled around in Winchester’s box before Giber cleaned up the mess, striking the bouncing ball into the back of the net.

For Winchester, Redwine was assisted on defense by Sam Paul, Daniel Boulanger and Will Boyle.

Winchester (4-0) will look to add to its undefeated streak at home against Woburn at 3:45 p.m. Friday. On Monday, Winchester hosts Lexington at 3:45 p.m. in a highly-anticipated match between two of the recent powers in the Middlesex League.

Belmont will go on the road Friday to face Reading at 3:45 p.m., before hosting Woburn at 6 p.m. Monday.