Close call: Framingham gets past Brockton

Brockton's Daniel Famosi had a strong game in goal, but couldn't stop this shot by Erick Nader. (Lisa Poole/For the Globe)

Framingham and Brockton entered last night's Division 1 boys' soccer EMass final at Manning

Field in Lynn with 14 ties between them, so a close contest was predictable. The teams didn't disappoint, with Framingham coming away with a 1-0 win on a penalty kick late in the first half.

"We're just playing one game at a time," said Framingham coach Dan Avery. "We knew how good Brockton was, but fortunately we were able to get away with the win."

With seven minutes left in the first half, Framingham's Aaron Kanarek was taking the ball down the middle of the field when Brockton defender Nicholas Andrade was called for grabbing Kanarek's jersey.

"It was extremely questionable," said Brockton coach Rick Robens. "There wasn't any kind of call there."

Flyer midfielder Erick Nader scored on the penalty shot, slotting the ball inside the right post, despite an admirable effort by Brockton goalie Daniel Famosi.

"I wasn't worried," Nader said. "I usually shoot pretty well to the right side, so I was confident."

The Boxers (12-3-8) had chances to get even in the second half. Seventeen minutes in, Jorge Diez collected a deflected ball and had a straight shot from 10 yards, but missed wide left.

The win gives Framingham (17-0-6) a chance to atone for last year's 1-0 loss to St. John's of Shrewsbury on penalty kicks in the state final. The Flyers will face Ludlow, a 2-0 winner over St. John's yesterday, in Saturday's state final at Westboro.

"It feels great," said Nader. "But this year we need to win."

Division 2
Masconomet 2, Nauset 0 - Masconomet hasn't allowed a goal in the postseason, and the Chieftains continued their shutdown defense in a win over Nauset in the boys' EMass final at Weymouth High.

Masconomet, which has outscored opponents, 8-0, in the playoffs, will meet tonight's Hudson-Mt. Greylock winner in Saturday's state final at Lowell.

"It's nice to be on the winning side," said coach Len Emmons. "It was a nice team effort. The defense held together so well."

Nauset peppered the net in the first half, coming up with a couple of great scoring chances. Less than five minutes into the game, Nauset's Paul Brazil split the defense and blasted a shot that sailed wide. Then, with Masconomet goalie John Doucette out of position, Mark Evans guarded the open net and made two tremendous kick saves.

"We were lucky on those shots, but you have to have some luck," said Emmons. "We bend a lot but we don't break."

With the defense holding down the fort, the Chieftain offense broke through.

In the 28th minute, Brad McDonald lofted a corner kick toward the box, where Andrew Panella was able to head the ball to the far corner of the net to give Masconomet a 1-0 lead.

Masconomet iced the game in the 74th minute. John Miller sent a crossing kick to Kevin McAllister, who headed it past Brett Conrad for the 2-0 lead.

Division 3
Hamilton-Wenham 1, Carver 0 - He spends most of the time in the background, but Hamilton-Wenham's Dan Castro came through when the spotlight was on and his team needed him.

Castro, a senior stopper, buried a penalty kick in the 19th minute to propel the Generals past Carver in the boys' EMass final at Weymouth High. The Generals will face defending state champion Bromfield in Saturday's state final at Lowell.

"He's a captain for us and has some great skill," said coach Matt Gauron. "We got a break and were fortunate to put it away on a penalty kick."

The Generals (15-4-2) took it to Carver early, controlling play in the middle of the field. Midway through the half, Ian McCracken made a great move down the left side to beat two Carver defenders before he was hauled down in the box, which warranted the penalty kick.

Up stepped Castro, who had never scored in his high school career. But he calmly drilled a low liner into the left corner of the net, as Carver's Mike Phelan dived the other way.

The score put the Generals in a good position - they had only allowed one goal the entire tournament. They clamped down again and kept Carver from getting any real pressure.

"It was tough for us to penetrate them, they are a well-rounded, athletic team," Carver coach Sean Carey said.

Hamilton-Wenham had four golden opportunities in the second half, but Phelan stoned every one.

"We definitely got some good looks, but we knew he was a great keeper," Gauron said.

Carver (20-2-1) couldn't capitalize, though, getting only two legitimate chances in the second half that were turned away by a swarming Generals' defense. Globe correspondents Michael Grossi and Nick French contributed to this report.