NEWBURYPORT — Post-season jitters. Every team gets them, every team shakes them.

However, after a lackluster first half of boys soccer, where nerves and a tapering cool mist dulled the senses of players, fans and refs alike, it was the home-advantaged No. 13 Newburyport Clippers (10-5-4) who tapped into the energy reservoirs first and promptly disposed of the No. 20 Marblehead Magicians (7-8-5), 4-0.

The initial half featured a lot of aggressive play that never came to fruition for either squad. It was highlighted by tenacious defense and effective goaltending by Clipper senior co-captain Ethan Machurat (11 saves), who may have quelled the Magician storm with a huge save at the 8:18 mark when Marblehead forward Sam Terrill broke free but was eventually tied up and repelled by Machurat with a sinister diving block.

"In the first half, they took us out of our game," Machurat said. "We tried to force it too much up the middle, and that's just not how we've played all season. We always play to the corners and cross it in, which is where we find the majority of our success."

Once half-time finished, it was loud and clear that both teams were set to erase the memories of such an uneventful first half of scoreless soccer. But to say that the Clippers didn't waste any time may be an understatement.

At 36:46, senior Paul Cendron sent a corner kick directly in front of the Magician net, and senior co-captain Tyler Stotz (goal and an assist) neatly headed the ball into the far right corner, initiating a sonic boom of cheers.

But that goal was only the beginning of the end for the quickly retreating Marblehead squad.

Streaking down the right sideline, senior co-captain Tom Svirsky blasted a pass in front, setting up a double-header between Stotz and junior Stephen Bajko that resulted in another Clipper score at 31:15.

"It's just huge for us to keep this season going," Stotz said. "This is what we've wanted, and to come out in the second half and perform the way we know we can and should, certainly gave us momentum going into the next round."

Another header by Svirsky from a Cendron pass at 20:42 took all magic that was still floating inside the Marblehead morale, and then with 6:15 left in the game, senior Tom Dwyer blasted a shot that ricocheted off the goalie's hands and tumbled in for the game's final tally.

"Marblehead did play tough," senior co-captain Thayer Adsit said. "We had some trouble controlling the ball, but in the second half we were able to play it wide, spread them out and wear them out. You could tell they were on their heels the rest of the way."

Clipper coach David Greenblott was clearly pleased and rather relieved to come away with the win, but a curious lack of tempo is something he knows the team needs to change.

"We just didn't have the intensity we needed to play at," Greenblott said. "We matched up a little differently in the second and the guys followed the game plan a little better, as well. Which in turn created a lot more scoring opportunities and was the difference."

With the Clippers now advancing into the second round, a familiar foe in Wilmington (13-1-4) looms ahead. Though the Clippers lost in the season match-up, 3-1, Newburyport understands how the Wildcats play, what they offer and how to prepare themselves mentally.

"We have to step it up and bring our A game," Svirsky said. "We need to capitalize from the very first whistle, play to the best of our abilities and take it to them."