Newton North completes Cinderella-like journey to the top

WORCESTER — The clock didn’t strike midnight. The carriage didn’t turn back into a pumpkin and the glass slipper fit perfectly for Newton North on Saturday at Coughlin Field.

The 31st-seed Tigers completed one of the most improbable runs to a state championship in recent memory as first half goals from Seth Rao and Santiago Cuervo lifted the Tigers to the program’s first ever state title, 2-1, over St. John’s (Shrewsbury).

“We challenged the kids and they’ve risen to the occasion,” Tigers coach Roy Dow said. “They wanted to leave a legacy, and they put up a banner now that no one else has.”

After going 4-9-4 and making the postseason by only .0051 of a point, the Tigers sixth win in as many tries in the postseason once again came down to high drama.

Down by a goal in the final minutes, the Pioneers went into full attack mode and North needed all the talents of its standout keeper, Gabino Talisayon, to overcome the surge.

Talisayon threw his body around with reckless abandon and made what turned out to be the play of the night with just over seven minutes left. Pioneers (16-7-0) striker William Baltes looked like he had the tying goal when his shot was ticketed for the upper 90. Talisayon somehow was able to dive to his left and punch the ball just wide of the right post.

“He’s something special and he’s proved that all tournament,” Dow said of his brilliant keeper.

It looked like the Tigers were going to have their first comfortable win of the tournament after how the first 40 minutes played out.

A dominant defense in front of Talisayon was coupled with opportunistic offense against the wind in the first half.

Seth Rao, who led that dominant defense, gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead just over five minutes in when he chipped home a Thiago Rubino corner at the back post.

After the Pioneers’ Jackson Dorazio saw a golden chance inside the box slip just past the left post midway through the half, North got an insurance goal with just under 11 minutes left in the first.

Once again it was a perfectly placed corner that did the trick as Rao floated one into the box. Santiago Cuervo right footed at the left post and the Tigers led 2-0 at the break.

Talisayon came up with a huge stop on a penalty kick midway through the second half and then stoned Tyler Gladu on the rebound. Play continued, however, and Anthony Soto took advantage of a scramble in the box to cut the Tigers lead to 2-1.

That set the tone for the frantic finish and the Tigers improbable title.

“We wanted to set a mark for other teams to experience a run like this,” Dow said. “And now can only be matched by someone.”