SOUTH DUXBURY — In first-round Division II boys’ soccer playoff action, host No. 5 Harwood ousted No. 12 Otter Valley, 4-0, on Wednesday.
The Highlanders received three goals from Philip Hekeler and improved to 8-1-3; they advanced to a Saturday quarterfinal at No. 4 Mount Abraham.
The Otters finished at 3-9-3 despite what the Harwood coach described as a “massive” effort on their part and despite 17 saves, many of them challenging, from goalie Colin Nicklaw. OV tested Highland goalie Esteban Garcia Guiance five times.
OV Coach Dick Williams said the Otters held their own until Hekeler’s first goal, in the 18th minute.
“We were doing a nice job of keeping them from having continuous success passing. That didn’t stay that way. There were moments where they picked us apart with their passing. They are a very good team,” Williams said. “All that said I believe we made them earn it.”