HUNTINGTON – Taking care of business.
That is exactly what No. 4 Gateway did against No. 5 Hampden Charter School of Science in a West Division 4 quarterfinal Monday at home. The Gators posted a 5-0 shutout to advance to a highly anticipated semifinal matchup against top-seeded Granby (13-5-1) Wednesday at Holyoke High’s Roberts Field. The game will kick off at 7 p.m.
Gateway’s Hannah Duggan (15) maneuvers the ball past a Hampden Charter defender Monday night in a West Division 4 quarterfinal in Huntington. (Photo by Marc St. Onge)
“It was kind of a sloppy game,” Gateway coach Steve Estelle said, “but my girls dominated.”
Gateway scored three first-half goals.
Becca Hyjek set up the first Gateway score, delivering a pass to Ava Auclair, who found the back of the net for a 1-0 lead. Peyton Bucko made it 2-0 with a 35-yard bomb, striking from the right side by going upper left-hand corner.
Gateway seized a 3-0 lead late in the half when Auclair one-timed a corner kick from Bucko for a score.
In the second half, two Gators teamed up for a nice give-and-go. Hyjek scored; Erin Harris assisted.
Gateway tallied another insurance score midway through the second half on another corner kick from Bucko. Angela Wright one-timed the ball with her left foot into the left side of the net.
Becca Herman recorded a shutout in net. While relatively unchallenged, Herman did manage to disrupt the HCSS offense by breaking up a couple of cross passes.
No. 2 Ware 7, No. 7 St. Mary’s 1
Ware kept its unbeaten season intact, improving to 17-0-1 with a convincing victory over St. Mary’s Monday at home.
