ORANGE – Southwick freshman Autumn Waitt scored her fourth and fifth postseason goals in the team’s second tournament game as the fifth-seeded Rams squeaked by the No. 4 Mahar Senators in a West Division 3 girls soccer quarterfinal overtime thriller 2-1 Tuesday.
Waitt chipped in Karli Langan’s cross-pass from the corner flag in the 84th minute to send Southwick high-stepping into the semifinals.
Southwick’s Krista Girroir, left, pokes the ball away from a Mahar player during a West D3 girls soccer quarterfinal. (Photo by Chris Putz)
“I feel like my team played really hard,” Waitt said. “We drove too far … to not play good and play as a team and to win. We really came together and played as a team and I’m really proud of them.”
Waitt put Southwick out front in the fourth minute with some quick thinking. Aelish McGivney blasted a shot at the Mahar net that Senators’ goalie Elysha Bedard made a diving save on. Bedard attempted to corral the ball on the ground, but Waitt got to it first, tapping it past the outstretched arms of the goalie from about three feet out.
Mahar scored the equalizer with 15:25 remaining in regulation when Katie Cleveland launched a header into the back of the net on a high-arching pass from Kianna Reilly.
“The first 20 minutes of the game was ours,” Southwick coach Todd Downie said. “After that, they took it to us pretty well. We were fortunate to get out of this one.”
Southwick’s backfield delivered another steady performance with senior Krista Girroir and others stepping in to break up nearly every Senators’ drive that got past the first couple waves of defense.
Through two games, Southwick has allowed just one goal. The Rams opened the tournament with a 5-0 shutout of No. 12 Taconic.
The victory sets up a semifinal double header on Thursday with Southwick hosting top-seeded South Hadley (17-1-1) in girls’ tournament play at 5 p.m. The West Division 3 boys’ soccer semifinal, featuring the second-seeded Rams (13-3-1) and No. 3 Frontier (12-2-4) will follow at 7.
“It’s cool because the guys are always rooting for the girls, and the girls are always rooting for the guys,” coach Downie said. “It’s going to be a fun atmosphere to see.”
WEST DIVISION 1 GIRLS SOCCER QUARTERFINALS
Bombers soar to semis
No. 4 Westfield 2, No. 5 Chicopee Comp 0
Bella Rinaldi and Chandler Pedolzky scored one goal apiece – both in the second half – and Adrianna Arona (14 saves) recorded a shutout to secure a spot for Westfield in the semifinals.
Rinaldi scored 63 seconds into the final half on a pass from Ellen Jury. Jury switched the point of attack, moving the ball from left to right before delivering a pass to Rinaldi, who lofted a high floater from just outside the box into the back of the net.
Pedolzky scored unassisted with 9:03 remaining, dribbling past nearly a half-dozen defenders deep into the Chicopee Comp zone and slipping the ball past the Comp goalie for some added insurance.
“We had a game plan and everyone executed on attacking and on the defensive side of the ball,” Westfield coach Keith Saltmarsh said.
Saltmarsh credited Claire LeMarche and Emma Pedolzky, and center-midfielder Mackenzie Liptak with a solid defensive effort.
Westfield advances to take on top-seeded West Springfield (16-0-3) Thursday at Central High School’s Berte Field in Springfield at 7 p.m.
WEST DIVISION 4 GIRLS SOCCER QUARTERFINALS
Auclair, Gators prevail
No. 2 Gateway 2, No. 7 Hopkins Academy 0
Ava Auclair scored two goals – one in each half and Becca Herman (2 saves) posted a shutout at home to earn Gateway a trip to the semis.
Erin Harris collected a first half assist; Nina Iglesias had one in the second.
Jessica Van Heynigen also helped key the offensive assault, manning the midfield. In addition to starting a number of runs, Van Heynigen also showed veteran leadership in a super all-around effort.
Jules Dickenson, Charlotte Kazalski, and Angela and Megan Wright were instrumental in orchestrating a tremendous defensive effort for Gateway.
Gateway (12-2-3) next takes on No. 3 Lenox (11-5-3) Thursday at Holyoke High’s Roberts Sports Complex at 5 p.m.
