The Vineyard boys' soccer team and their fans head to Taunton High School today to take on the Norwell Clippers in the division three south section championship game. Start time is 2:30 p.m., and the winner will advance to state semi-finals.

Earlier this week in Taunton, the team found that victory is sweet, but redemption is satisfying.

In a game that twice went into sudden death overtime before a pinpoint strike put an end to the contest, the Vineyard boys’ soccer team defeated the Medway Mustangs 2-1 on Tuesday to advance to the final game.

A year ago, the Vineyard team lost 2-1 to Medway in the semifinal game, which also went into overtime. But this year, with just seconds remaining in stoppage time of the second overtime, senior fullback Alex GordonBeck took a pass from junior striker Jason Lages and sent the ball soaring past Medway goalie Mike Bagdon. The Vineyard crowd let out a roar of elation that lasted some 10 minutes.

“I was thinking like, that’s the perfect ball. I can’t mess this up,” GordonBeck said of his game-winner.

Brandon Dwane scored the first goal as the Vineyard defeated Medway 2-1. — Ivy Ashe

Senior co-captain Brandon Dwane scored the first goal of the game, after a free kick by fellow senior and co-captain Ben Poole set up a scramble at the net.

“Jason [Lages] kind of touched it and it went through the keeper’s legs and right to me,” Dwane said after the game. “I was at the right place at the right time. I saw the opportunity and went for it.”

GordonBeck said a turning point came after Medway evened the score with just over five minutes remaining in regulation, after Mustang senior Adem Karacaoglu crossed the ball past Vineyard goalie Matt Stone. “It was like, the game’s not over yet,” GordonBeck said. “It kind of fired us up.” But in fact the Vineyard had come out strong from the team’s first pass, with the seniors in particular demonstrating a maturity that can come only with past postseason experience. The team kept up the pressure on Medway throughout, throwing the Mustangs off their formidable passing game.

A slight setback occurred in the second half when Lages ran into Medway defender Torin Smith in the 65th minute and received a yellow card. The two players exchanged a handshake on the field later in the half; no hard feelings.

The teams paced one another in shots on goal throughout the game.

“They were neck and neck the whole time,” said coach Ryan White, who works with the goalkeepers.

“What I told my goalies before this game is that this is a high pressure team, and the only way to defeat a team of this caliber is to have high pressure,” Coach White added. “The attack starts with the goalie. Don’t think about the goals you’re going to save, think about the opportunities you’re going to create.”

“We worked very, very hard to get here,” head coach Esteban Aranzabe said. “I knew that we had to play against an amazing team.” Medway had just one loss in the regular season. The Vineyard crowd bolstered its team throughout the match. Four busloads of fans made the trip up to Taunton (buses were donated by Our Market), and many families took advantage of the Veterans Day holiday to drive up as well. Purple shirts reading Vineyard Soccer were handed out before the game. Senior Tim Roberts took purple to the next level and dressed in a grape suit.

“We did our work for our families, for our Island, and for our soccer community,” Coach Aranzabe said.

Fan buses will also be heading to Taunton on Saturday, meeting the noon boat. Bus sign up is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday at the regional high school. Stop by in person or email Peggy Stone at stone5341@comcast.net.