WESTFIELD – “To snatch victory from the jaws of defeat” is a euphemism that the Gateway Regional High School girls’ soccer team would rather avoid in the coming days.
No. 1 unbeaten Monson rallied from a 2-0 deficit with a pair of second-half goals, squeaking out a 3-2 shootout victory over second-seeded Gateway in the West Division 4 championship Saturday at Westfield State University.
Gateway kept Monson scoreless for 68 minutes. For nearly 15 minutes, the Gators held a two-goal lead. The Mustangs changed all that with a game-tying goal late in regulation, and capped it all off by winning on the always-dreaded penalty kicks.
Gateway’s Ava Auclair (7) and Monson’s Bryanna Murphy battle for possession of the ball during the girls’ soccer Division 4 West Sectional championship Saturday at Westfield State University. (Photo by Marc St. Onge)
“I’ve won that way and lost that way,” Gateway coach Steve Estelle said. “That’s just the way it is.”
To the average fan, it was a stunning start to the Division 4 title game.
Gateway scored the game’s first goal in the 53rd minute when Samantha Belardo drilled the ball into the left side of the net.
About a minute later, Jessica Van Heynigen made it 2-0. Van Heynigen followed through on a rebound after Dickinson smacked it off the goalie’s chest.
As the minutes began to fade and the pressure mounted, Monson stepped up to the task. Marley Nissenbaum scored with 11:36 remaining and Lily Fabian tallied the game-tying goal with just over three minutes left.
The two teams had chances in both overtime periods with Monson smacking the crossbar and heading the ball over it on the rebound just as time expired before shootout.
Both team’s first players to kick – Fabian and Belardo – successfully sank their kicks in the shootout frame. The next two did not. Bryanna Murphy gave the Mustangs the advantage, driving her kick home, while Gateway’s next kick hit the crossbar.
Things evened up a hair when Monson’s ensuing kick hit the post, but the Mustangs keeper made a fantastic save. Lauren Medeiros followed with the game-winner.
“It was an unbelievable game against a great team,” coach Estelle said.
Gateway goalie Becca Herman finished with 13 saves.
