Beverly goalie, back from injury, leads Framingham State to title

Greg Halle was losing touch with the soccer player he used to be.

An undersized keeper with springs in his legs, Halle (inset) dazzled at Beverly High and was sought after by Framingham State men's coach Dean Nichols.

Nichols planned for Halle to challenge for a job as the Rams' starter in 2007. He brought his recruit along slowly, playing Halle sparingly in three games as a freshman in 2006.

But in the spring of '07, Halle suffered a knee injury playing intramural flag football.

He rehabbed the knee in the summer. He rehabbed last fall, while the Rams won a school-record 14 games and the MASCAC title. He rehabbed last winter and spring and began last summer thinking about finally getting back to game action.

Then he separated his shoulder in a summer league soccer match.

He had to take a month off, then tried to stay active by playing basketball and riding a stationary bike. That zone, where he wasn't thinking, just reading and reacting to shots, seemed miles away.

"I played every game in high school. Started every game," he said. "I definitely had to bang off some rust coming into this season."

And once the year began, the rust was still there. He was pulled at the half after allowing three goals in a Sept. 24 game against Babson.

"He had a little trouble," said Nichols. "I had to take him out. It wasn't even really his fault. We had some breakdowns defensively."

Halle called it "the worst game I've ever played."

"That was the defining moment to me," he said. "I was just frustrated, just trying to find my groove. I thought about all the things I needed to change."

He got the start four days later. He blanked Mass. Maritime on the road, then didn't allow a goal to a MASCAC opponent the rest of the regular season, shutting down Worcester State, Salem State (in double overtime), Mass. College of Liberal Arts, and Bridgewater State as the Rams finished 16-3-1 and repeated as MASCAC champions.

Asked to measure how Halle's confidence has grown, Nichols points to the goalie's take-charge attitude in front of the goal.

"He's controlling the box, seeing any dangerous ball, knowing where the ball is, understanding what ball you can get to and what ball you should get to. It's being fearless," said Nichols. "It's a matter of dominating."

The Rams' offense carried them to an 8-3 win over Fitchburg State in the first round of the MASCAC tournament. Then they leaned on Halle, and he dominated.

He shined in a 3-1 semifinal win over Mass. College of Liberal Arts and a 2-1 win over Salem State in the final, holding the Vikings scoreless for the first 86 minutes of the match. Halle stopped 17 shots in the two games, earning MASCAC Player of the Week honors and helping the Rams to their first MASCAC tournament title.

Framingham State played at Middlebury College yesterday in the first round of the NCAA Division 3 regionals. The winner plays the Clark University/Norwich University winner today at Middlebury.

When Framingham's season ends, it will be hard to get Halle off the field. He finally feels like the goalie he used to be.

"I was overthinking. I just needed to play, because I knew I could," he said.

It's been a tough season for talented Wheaton College sophomore Melida Alvarez (inset) of Saugus. Dogged by two sprained ankles and a bad back, among other maladies, Alvarez has missed six soccer games and seen reduced playing time. Not to mention that enemy defenses have been keying on her after her stellar freshman year, in which she set a Wheaton freshman record with 23 goals and led the team in goals, points (50), and game-winners (9).

Still, Alvarez scored a team-best 14 goals for the Lyons, who have outscored opponents 52-17 on their way to the NCAA Division 3 tournament.

The Salem State men's and women's basketball teams, both opening the year Tuesday night at the Twohig Gymnasium, were picked to win their side of the MASCAC in a preseason poll of league coaches released on Wednesday. And the coaches were surprised to hear about it.

"A little bit," said men's coach Chris Harvey. "I know we've got Dylan Holmes [the MASCAC Player of the Year], but we lost five seniors." A trio of local sophomores - Nick Linear and Rufus Louf (Salem) and Everett native Jonathan Elivert - look to fill the void of five lost seniors for the Vikes, who were bounced out of last year's NCAA Division 3 tournament in the first round.

"I didn't know we were picked first," said Lady Vikings coach Tim Shea. "But I do think it is probably a toss-up between us and Fitchburg [State]." Shea will count on former Lynn Classical forward Manise Louniord and senior forward Lauren Whooley (Danvers/Pingree School).

Matt Porter can be reached at heymattporter@gmail.com.