St. Mary’s Emma Goodreau converts a penalty kick for the team’s lone goal in the second half of a West Division 4 girls soccer tournament opening 1-0 victory over Duggan Academy Monday at Westfield Intermediate School Field on Southampton Road. (Photo by Chris Putz)
WESTFIELD – The St. Mary’s High School girls soccer team celebrated the Feast of All Saints on Friday. Little did the green-and-gold jerseyed players from the small, private Catholic school know though that Monday all of the Saints would feast on a monumental victory.
Eighth grader Emma Goodreau converted a penalty kick with just nine minutes remaining in regulation to send the eighth-seeded St. Mary Saints to a thrilling 1-0 win over No. 9 Duggan Academy in a West Division 4 girls soccer tournament opener Monday afternoon at Westfield Intermediate School Field.
Goodreau was swept up in the arms of teammates, who celebrated the St. Mary’s High School girls soccer team’s first postseason victory in decades.
“It was very stressful,” Goodreau said. “I thought I was going to miss because there’s so much pressure. After my sister, my coach came up to me, I felt more excited and ready to do it.”
St. Mary’s girls soccer head coach Patrick Olearcek called a timeout after Duggan (10-4-5) committed a penalty in the box, allowing his Saints (14-3-2) a chance to catch their collective breaths. Coach Olearcek and injured teammate and sister Allie Goodreau offered Emma words of encouragement just before the dramatic PK.
Emma Goodreau looked one way and went the other, drilling a low shot into the opposite corner of the net.
Earlier this year, sophomore Allie Goodreau recorded her 100th career point. Soon after, she suffered a season-ending injury.
“Obviously being down one of our best players has been tough, but these kids have got a lot of heart,” coach Olearcek said.
It was a struggle for both teams to get going all afternoon. St. Mary’s never gave up, and the Saints were rewarded for their efforts.
“It was so close the whole game,” said St. Mary’s freshman goalie Amelia Willenborg, who made five saves to earn a shutout. “When Emma scored, it put even more pressure on the defense.”
St. Mary’s eighth grader Macy Woodger limited Duggan Academy’s top scorer to just one shot on net.
“We all had to step it up (today),” Willenborg said. “Every single person on the team helped us win today.”
BOYS SOCCER
WEST D3 OPENING ROUND
Brown, Rams down Sabis
No. 7 Southwick 5, No. 10 Sabis 4
Nick Brown scored four goals, including the game-winner to lead No. 7 Southwick past No. 10 Sabis in a West Division 3 opening round tournament game Monday night at Whalley Park.
Paul Whalley set up the game-winning goal, beating two defenders in the middle of the field and distributing the ball to Brown for a breakaway score in the 64th minute.
“Nick was absolutely unstoppable,” Southwick boys soccer head coach Chris Whalley said.
Southwick goalie Ryan Molta made seven saves.
Southwick (10-6-3) advances to play at second-seeded Pope Francis (13-3-2) in the quarterfinals Thursday at 5 p.m.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
WEST D3 QUARTERFINALS
Millionaires prevail
No. 3 Lenox def. No. 11 Southwick 20-25, 25-15, 25-14, 25-21
Alexandra Methe (4 aces, 5 digs), Emily Buchter (5 digs), Aniya Kamara (5 kills), Kaitlyn Haseltine (9 assists, 4 digs), and Sarah Cerone (3 blocks, 4 kills) led Southwick (15-7).
The Lenox Millionaires improved to 17-4.
The St. Mary Saints celebrate Emma Goodreau’s game-winning penalty kick late in Monday afternoon’s postseason game against visiting Duggan Academy. (Photo by Chris Putz)
