Andrew Mattarazzo fought back his tears and stumbled over his words, trying to think of the right thing to say.
The first-year Concord girls head soccer coach and his wife unexpectedly welcomed their son Antonio into the world on Sept. 28, 2020. Unexpectedly, because what was just supposed to be a normal check-up close to the delivery date, they were told that Antonio was coming now.
โItโs pretty emotional,โ he said following Concordโs 1-0 win over Londonderry. โEverything happened so fast. You never know whatโs going to happen in life. It was an emergency C-section, and now weโre playing on his birthday.โ
Mattarazzo called the Crimson Tideโs victory Tuesday a family win, and like all families, they had to work together until the final whistle was blown.
They played a very evenly matched opponent in the Lady Lancers, and it showed at halftime as the scoreboard remained deadlocked at zero. While both teams were generating scoring opportunities, neither was able to sustain offensive success and the defenses for both controlled the game.
It wasnโt until the 61st minute when one of Concordโs chances paid off, however.
Senior defender Caley Nault drew up the field from her spot in the back line and sent a crossing pass over to junior midfielder Avery Fitcher. Fitcher played the ball perfectly, and the one-timer goal was the difference-maker.
Seemingly, when one team is able to break the scoring tension, it keeps finding the back of the net, and while that wasnโt the case for the Tide, they were able to generate better chances. Freshman midfielder Willa Marino and junior midfielder Gabriela Chown from the wings of the field kept driving the ball into the middle, creating havoc in front of the net.
โThatโs what weโve been striving for with these girls,โ Mattarazzo said. โWeโve got to attack and keep creating chances, and thatโs what we were able to do.โ
Some of those chances were over before they started, though. At least three in each half were blown dead because of offsides as the Tide like to push up on the defense and stretch the field.
Eventually, the chances stopped and the defense was forced to close out the game. Behind solid play from senior goalkeeper Lily Hillsgrove and a back line thatโs filled with experienced players, the Tide held on.
โ(If) we donโt give up a goal, we canโt lose,โ Mattarazzo said. โYou either tie or you win.โ
Not only was Concord winners on the pitch, but it was off the pitch too. The girls got cupcakes to celebrate Antonioโs birthday. Antonio received plenty of toys, and Andrew got to witness it all with both of his worlds there in one spot.
โIโm super excited to get the win on Antonioโs birthday,โ he said now through a smile instead of tears. โTo have him be healthy, my wife be healthy and my girls all here playing hard, thatโs what I do it for.โ