Boys’ Soccer Playoffs : Holly Lifts Harvard to Another Late Victory

Marty Holly has grown accustomed to last-minute heroics this season.

Holly, a senior striker for the Harvard High boys’ team, stood out again Friday, scoring with 1:15 remaining to lift the Saracens to a 1-0 win over visiting Oak Park in the first round of the Southern Section Small Schools soccer playoffs.

The goal was Holly’s 19th--a team high--and marked the fourth time he has scored a game-winner in the final 90 seconds this year.

Senior goalkeeper Reari Engelberg recorded 11 saves to post the shutout.

“It was the best game of the year for us,” Coach Barclay Mackinnon said. “We were a little flat so we needed it.”

Harvard (13-9-1) will face either Miraleste or Buckley in the second round.

L.A. Baptist 3, Aquinas 1--Ron Simpson, Shane White and Don Flaig each scored for L. A. Baptist in the first-round match at L. A. Baptist.

Dan Stepper assisted on two of the goals and White also had an assist.

L. A. Baptist (16-5-1), the No. 4-seeded team and second-place representative from the Alpha League, will play Brentwood on Wednesday at a site to be determined. Aquinas finished 10-8-1.

Notre Dame 3, Salesian 0--Chris Afarian, James Meono and Nic Ban each scored and Ed Kotnik posted a shutout in the first-round match at Notre Dame. The Knights improved to (17-5-1).