HUNTINGTON – The St. Mary’s girls’ soccer team’s reward for earning their first postseason berth in recent memory: a matchup against two-time defending WMass D3 champ Gateway.
No. 6 St. Mary (13-4-1) will square off against No. 3 Gateway (9-1-3) Monday in Huntington at 6 p.m.
“It’s going to be tough,” St. Mary coach Joe Almeida said. “Gateway’s a good team. They’re in the upper class. Experience-wise, we don’t have that. We’ll see how it goes.”
Almeida said his Saints will not only face the challenge of stiff competition, but may have to combat the cold temperatures as well. Although, the coach said his team will play not only in frigid conditions, but snow, rain, and wind if they have to.
“This is a totally new season,” Almeida said. “We’re going to do our best. Anything can happen.”
DÉJÀ VU? There is the potential for another Gateway-St. Mary’s matchup early on in the boys’ tournament. If the 12th-seeded Saints (7-8-2) can upset No. 5 Holyoke Catholic on Saturday night at Chicopee Comp at 7:30, they will travel to Huntington to face the Gators on Tuesday evening at 6.
Gateway finished the regular season 10-3. The Gators are seeded fourth, which earned them a first-round bye.
