October 26, 2025 – Story and photos by Joshua Ross
On Saturday, the Hingham High School boys soccer team delivered a memorable upset against the BC High Eagles, defeating the higher-ranked Division 1 team 3-2 in a nail-biting contest at Hingham High School. The Harbormen, currently ranked 9th in MIAA Division 2, showed their strength and resilience against the 4th-ranked Eagles in a game that was full of drama, big plays, and plenty of late-game heroics.
The match started with an early advantage for BC High, as the Eagles took a 1-0 lead halfway through the first half. Hingham, however, refused to be intimidated by the stronger opponent and kept themselves in the game. As Head Coach David Leahy noted, “The first half, we were kind of feeling ourselves out too much. We only let in one, which was very important. That allowed us to have a good talk at halftime and change our ways.”
The second half, however, would prove to be a completely different story.
In the 49th minute, Hingham senior Colman Donohue came through with a crucial goal, heading in a well-placed corner kick to equalize the game at 1-1. The goal sparked new energy in the Harbormen, who were now showing a newfound strength and determination.
“In the second half, we just came out with a lot of strength and bravery,” Coach Leahy explained. “I think that was lacking in the first half.”
Less than 20 minutes later, in the 68th minute, sophomore Aidan Holmes gave the Harbormen the lead with a header of his own off another corner kick. Holmes had originally been instructed to head to the back post, but when the ball came to him at the front post, he instinctively adjusted and was in perfect position to convert.
“I was supposed to go back post, but then it got changed, I was going front post. The ball came out, and I knew I should be at the front post,” Holmes recalled. “I almost missed it—hit the back of my head and saw it go in. It was just electric.”
Despite their lead, Hingham’s advantage would be short-lived. BC High responded just minutes later to level the game at 2-2. The back-and-forth nature of the match set up a dramatic final stretch.
With the game tied and time winding down, it was Hingham senior captain Ryan Murtagh who stepped up in the 78th minute to deliver the game-winning goal. From 25 yards out, Murtagh fired a powerful shot on goal, which took an unexpected bounce and sailed over the BC High keeper’s head into the net. It was the kind of late-game brilliance that Hingham had been hoping for all season.
“It was great to see the seniors come through. I called them out a little bit at halftime, and they came through in a huge way,” Coach Leahy said. “It was great to see Captain Murtagh get that goal.”
As the clock ticked down, the Hingham defense and senior goaltender James Watters ensured the Eagles would have no chance at a late equalizer. Watters made several big saves in the final moments, while the Harbormen backline frustrated BC High’s attackers throughout the second half.
“The last three games—BC High, undefeated Norwell, and Duxbury—all of this is preparation,” Coach Leahy noted, pointing to the tough schedule ahead as the team heads into the postseason.
For Hingham, the win over BC High provides a major confidence boost heading into the postseason. Holmes was quick to recognize the significance of the victory. “So much motivation for the playoffs. If we can beat this team, we can beat any team that we face,” he said.
As for the team’s use of younger players like Holmes, Leahy sees it as a critical part of the Harbormen’s development. “It’s great as everyone gets experience, and everyone’s working on something for the future. It’s great,” Holmes added, acknowledging that the experience will serve the team well in the coming weeks.
The victory against BC High is a testament to the Harbormen’s resilience, teamwork, and leadership. With big games on the horizon, including contests against undefeated Norwell and Duxbury, Hingham is hopefully peaking at the right time.
As the Harbormen prepare for the playoffs, they’ll carry with them the knowledge that, despite the odds, they have the strength and skill to take on anyone.