MILTON — Norwell boys soccer head coach Michael O’Dea had high hopes for Bret Amorosino going into the 2024 season.
After the Clippers captured the 2023 MIAA Division III title, O’Dea saw the junior’s skills and thought he was ready to take on a bigger role in the offense. Unfortunately, the forward suffered an injury early in the 2024 season and never quite got to 100% as the team fell in the state championship game.
It seemed only fitting that he was the hero on Saturday.
Deadlocked in a scoreless tie with No. 4 Greater New Bedford Vocational Tech with the state title on the line, Amorosino received a pass at the top of the box from Peter Cohane. With a defender on his back, he made a turn to his right and quickly sent the ball on net. The low shot found the bottom right corner and gave the Clippers the lead.
That goal proved to be the difference as Norwell held on for the 1-0 win to claim its third championship in the past five seasons. After suffering heartbreak against Dover-Sherborn in the 2024 title game, the team promised to return.
“I just have a tremendous sense of pride, admiration, and love for this group for the way they stay physically tough,” O’Dea said. “From this time last year, they stayed mentally engaged and brave enough to dream. It takes a lot to get here.”
The Clippers finished the season 22-0-1. Dating back to 2023, the team has dropped only four games.
“We put so many hours. We built chemistry from day one. It’s a super unreal feeling. I love to be here,” Amorosino said.
The goal was Amorosino’s team-leading 29th of the season. For O’Dea, it was a full-circle moment to see how far his star has come.
“The mental anguish coming back from an injury not knowing where you are at. He struggled,” O’Dea said. “Then to see him respond this year, I gave him a huge embrace after the game and said, ‘That’s a winner’s mentality.”
“I’m so proud of him to get himself back up and say, ‘The team needs me this year,” he continued.
Shots came early and often for Norwell in the first half. Despite getting eight shots on net in the first half, Greater New Bedford had just enough on defense to prevent any high-risk shots.
Both teams were physical in the early minutes with bodies hitting the turf battling for the ball. At the 16-minute mark, Greater New Bedford’s Anthony Ramos drew a yellow card.
“I saw a team that was physical, talented, a lot of ability up top. They didn’t waste a lot of time getting the ball up the field,” O’Dea said. “So we had to be tough on the first and second balls, skip the ball. I thought our back five plus [goalie] Nick [Fein] did an unbelievable job to keep up with them.”
Fein and the rest of the defense kept the Clippers in the game while the offense tried to breakthrough.
Playing his first season in net, Fein completed his 14th shutout Saturday. After O’Dea and the rest of the coaching staff asked him toward the end of last season if he wanted to be goalie, the senior did everything he could to give Norwell the best chance to win. That meant getting the practice early and staying late to get as many reps as possible.
“The work he’s done since August to now,” O’Dea said. “I can’t say enough about Nick. He was incredible start to finish.”
“He really stepped up big this year. He put up hours with our assistant coach,” Amorosino said. “It’s been super cool to watch. He’s one of my basketball teammates and he has that ups to get the claims in the box. He’s one of my best buddies.”
On the other end of the field, Bears goalie Benjamin Viera did all he could to keep his team in the game. Despite getting hounded with shots, the sophomore made 13 saves, many coming from shots inside the box.
“He was fantastic. He’s vocal. He saved us. This game could have been 3-0, 4-0. He had a great showing,” Greater New Bedford head coach Henry Almeida said.
Norwell’s senior class leaves the program with a legacy that is more that just title, but perseverance after heartbreak.
“It’s truely special,” Amorosino said.
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