LEOMINSTER — A state championship game carries plenty of emotion — no matter the sport. Saturday’s Division 1 soccer final between No. 1 St. John’s Prep and No. 2 Natick delivered all of it.
The Eagles, who rarely trailed all season, fought back twice to pull level, only to see the Redhawks break through once more and hold on for a 3-2 win and first state title.
It took just 2:15 for Natick to open the scoring. Cole Boggis carried the ball down the right side and fired a low cross to Owen Ford, who was in the right place at the right time to tap in an early goal.
The Eagles controlled much of the possession in the first half, but the Redhawks found space behind Prep’s back line and came close to doubling their lead. In the 37th minute, Ford broke free for a one-on-one look, but his shot was stopped by Prep goalkeeper Matt Droggitis. From the save, Prep moved quickly downfield and into Natick’s box, where Finn McCabe flicked a pass to Ryan King, whose shot found the top corner to tie 1-1 heading into halftime.
The Eagles came out flying in the second half. Thirty seconds in, McCabe drilled a shot from outside the box, but Natick goalkeeper Jack Stephens made a key save.
Moments later, Prep All-American Garrison Murphy controlled a long ball under pressure from multiple Natick defenders. He held the play up and waited for support before slipping a pass to Michael Hutchinson, whose shot sailed over the crossbar.
Despite Prep’s early pressure, Natick regained its lead when All-American Luke Dougherty was left unmarked in the box and finished to make it 2-1.
Six minutes later, Hutchinson played Murphy through on goal. Murphy made no mistake on a breakaway to tie the game 2-2.
Natick’s third goal, another transition strike, came in the 72nd minute. Boggis held off a Prep defender while keeping control before firing a shot into the net for a 3-2 lead and eventual game-winner.
“The kid got inside the defender. He was bigger and he was able to shield him off,” St. John’s Prep coach Dave Crowell said of Boggis’ decisive goal.
Boggis (goal, 2 assists) and Dougherty (goal, assist) powered the Redhawks all afternoon. Crowell credited both forwards for their impacts.
“First of all, congratulations to Natick. Great team and great game,” Crowell said. “Those two kids up top were a real handful. We had trouble with them in the second half.”
Though Prep pushed late for another equalizer, Stephens commanded his box, claiming crosses and making key saves to preserve the lead.
Natick coach Daniel Joseph praised his team’s resolve.
“I’m so proud of all our guys. I told them before the game: ‘You guys are the most resilient group I’ve ever played with.’”
Crowell said he couldn’t fault his team’s effort.
“I’m so proud of them. If we had another five minutes, we would have done it again, but we ran out of time,” Crowell said. “Natick was great today.”
Crowell was full of praise for Murphy’s performance and career.
“He was double- and triple-teamed the whole game, and how many times did he still win the ball on his own?” Crowell said. “He should have had an assist early in the second half. He was all by himself, waited, was patient, kept the ball, passed it right out front, but the kid just missed it. He could have had another five assists today.
“An incredible career — especially after coming back from the injury last year that cost him most of the season,” Crowell added.
The Eagles finished the season 19-2-2.
