SOUTHWICK – Players for the Southwick-Tolland Regional High School girls’ soccer team may not be avid comic book readers, but the Rams are looking to play the role of the Avengers this postseason.
No. 3 Southwick turned the page on the next chapter of its chase for a championship, silencing sixth-seeded South Hadley 2-0 Monday. The Rams (10-4-4) will now look take on No. 2 Granby (14-2-3) in the semis in what figures to be a thrilling tournament rematch. The semifinal game will be played Wednesday at South Hadley High School at 5 p.m.
Southwick’s Lydia Kinsman, right, attempts to get out ahead of South Hadley’s Sarah Fudger during a West Division 3 girls’ soccer quarterfinal game Monday. (Photo by Chris Putz)
“I think we’ve definitely improved since my freshman year so we’ve been able to pass the ball better which is making us a stronger team, and we’re able to finish more,” said Southwick senior Alex Mello, who scored both goals against South Hadley (12-5-2). “It’s easier to win for us.”
Mello said things go much smoother when she and her teammates are focused during practice, fixing the little things that go wrong on touches or finishing shots.”
Very little went wrong for Southwick on Monday.
Mello hammered home the first Southwick goal near the top of the goalie box on a pass from Lydia Kinsman in the 32nd minute. She notched her second goal in the 53rd minute on a breakaway, heading a ball ahead to herself for a breakaway and beating South Hadley goalie Sophie Gatzounas (7 saves) one-on-one for an insurance score. Sam Perusse cleared the ball to set up the play.
Southwick goalie Tori Richburg (6 saves) made a couple of key stops just before and after the halftime break, including a sensational diving save to prevent South Hadley from netting the equalizer. The Rams’ defense turned away a couple of shots in the waning minutes as well.
The players were all smiles for Southwick after the game. Their head coach Todd Downie kept a more business-like demeanor, knowing full well the challenge ahead.
“We’ve got to get past the next game,” coach Downie said. “We lost to Granby last year. I expect it to be a tough game. If we can score first, we have a chance.”
GIRLS’ SOCCER
WEST DIVISION 4 GIRLS’ SOCCER QUARTERFINALS
No. 2 Gateway 4, No. 7 McCann Tech 0
Gateway scored four goals to punch out McCann and punch its ticket to the semifinals. The Gators will next take on No. 3 Mount Everett (15-2-2) Wednesday at Holyoke High’s Roberts Field at 7 p.m.
