Wilton-Lyndeborough beats Derryfield for first title since 1962

MANCHESTER –After 77 minutes of soccer, it was easy to understand how Stephen Taliadoros could have trouble describing his goal.

But whatever the reason the Wilton-Lyndeborough junior couldn't remember, it didn’t matter. All that mattered was that the ball found the back of the net.

Taliadoros scored in the third minute of Saturday’s Division IV boys soccer championship game and No. 4 Wilton-Lyndeborough made it hold up as the Warriors defeated No. 2 Derryfield 1-0 at Southern New Hampshire University.

The title is the first in boys soccer for W-L (17-2-1) since 1962, and it’s just the second boys team championship in school history.

“There was a bunch of deflections and it came right back to me and I saw the left side open and just tried to put it in the net,” Taliadoros said of the goal. “Thank God it worked out.

“That was the last thing I thought was going to happen, that the game was going to stay 1-0 the whole game. That’s to our defense’s credit. That’s the second time in a row that we’ve held Derryfield scoreless and that’s amazing. They deserve just as much credit as our offense does.”

The Cougars (16-2-2) entered the game having scored 10 goals in their previous three playoff games, while allowing none. And in the team’s first meeting of the season, Derryfield had beaten W-L 4-1.

But the second time they played, the Cougars and Warriors battled to a scoreless draw, the only other time this year Derryfield was shut out.

W-L coach Steve Martus knew going in that whichever team scored first would be the one that walked away with the title.

“We said on the bus over here, whenever it’s Derryfield and Wilton, it’s whoever puts away the first goal is going to be a winner,” he said. “The first three minutes set up the whole entire game.”

To get on the board so early was something that the Warriors hadn’t done all season, but Martus told the players before the game, be prepared for anything. Having played on the last W-L boys soccer team to make it to the final – the Warriors lost to Derryfield in 2002 when Martus was a senior – the coach knew what it felt like to come out on the short end.

“That was the most surprising part of the game,” Martus said. “We said there were two things you have to remember. Leave everything on the field, because after this game, you can’t say I wish I gave five percent more. And we made it to the championship, we can’t go home today, win or lose.”

After the goal, the teams pushed the ball from one end to the other. Derryfield seemed to control play at times, but neither had many opportunities until late in the first half.

In the 39^th minute, Derryfield’s Bryan Rivard sent a shot on goal that hit the crossbar and came straight down. The ball hit with such force it caromed back into the air, but W-L goalie Keith Bujak snatched it away before anyone else could get a foot on it.

The Warriors had a scoring chance of their own a few minutes later, when Colton Salisbury had one defender between him and the goal. But Salisbury’s shot went right to goalie Alex Zorn, who came out of the box to challenge the play.

The Cougars stepped up the pressure in the second half, cutting off the Warriors’ chances and taking it to W-L’s defense. Bujak came up with a couple of big saves, including a leaping grab in traffic.

“He played great,” Martus said. “He hadn’t had a lot of shots on goal the last couple of games, so he really surprised us.”

Bujak’s biggest save came with under two minutes remaining.

The Cougars were given a free kick at the top of the penalty box and the Warriors formed a wall in front of the goal. The shot by Spencer David found it’s way through, but Bujak was there to make the save.

“It’s tricky sometimes because you can’t always see it, but this time I saw it,” he said of the shot. “I tried to be as calm as possible and make sure everyone was in position.”

The opportunity was a great one for Derryfield, but it was also the last one the Cougars would get.

“I’ve never been that scared in my life,” Taliadoros said of the final moments. “It’s right where you want it. That’s a perfect spot for a free kick. Luckily Keith made the save.”