EASTON -- Oliver Ames High boys soccer coach John Barrata thought he had seen it all during the team's back-to-back championship runs in 2022 and 2023.
But in 2024, his team continues to find new ways to win.
In the Division 2 state tournament quarterfinals at home against West Springfield, junior Nick Babanikas scored for the Tigers just 1:40 into the contest. For the remaining 78-plus minutes, no other goals were scored and OA came away with a 1-0 victory, advancing to it's third consecutive Final Four.
After the game, all Barrata could do was laugh.
"You know what? I don't know what to say anymore in tournament time. Whatever happens, happens at this point," Barrata said with a big smile.
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Oliver Ames will take on Hockomock League foe and No. 2 Mansfield in the Div. 2 semifinals on Monday at 7 p.m. at Walpole High.
Babanikas even surprised himself scoring that early on in the contest.
"I didn't expect a goal in two minutes to start off. The ball came across, I took the first touch and was like, 'Oh I'm in on net,'" Babanikas said.
From then on, OA locked things down defensively. The Tigers limited the number of shots that went in on senior goaltender Zach Gilson, blocking or kicking many of them away before they got through.
As a goaltender, Gilson couldn't have been happier to see his team give him a one-goal cushion just minutes into the game.
"It was very relieving," Gilson said. "Right away the pressure was off. It was great."
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The pressure did remain for the defense for the rest of the game however. Following a West Springfield timeout with just over five minutes remaining, OA survived a late push by the Terriers to keep them off the scoreboard and seal the victory. West Springfield nearly capitalized off two late corners, including a shot that went just right of the net that ended up being the final shot of the game.
"I'm very proud of all of them. I thought they did a wonderful job," Gilson said of his defense. "They were winning their tackles, winning balls in the air. I'm just overall very, very proud of them."
The win was exemplary of how this year's Tigers differentiate from the prior two championship teams. What the team has lacked in flashy or skillful plays at times this season , Barrata says they make up for with toughness.
"We're not the most skillful team, but I think this team has a lot of grit and a lot of heart," Barrata said.
When it comes to comparisons to the previous two championship teams, Barrata wants nothing to do with it. While he is aware of the opportunity that lies in front of the team to three-peat, he continues to operates each new season as independent from the others.
But, those comparisons could come soon if these new-look Tigers manage to go all the way.
"It's a different team. We were the 2022 state champs. We were the 2023 state champs. We have to earn and fight to be this one," Barrata said.