Westford uses only shot to top Central

GIRLS SOCCER

All Westford Academy needed was one shot.

Playing yesterday at Woburn High in the Division 1 North girls soccer final against top-seeded Central Catholic, the No. 2 Grey Ghosts did very little offensively, managing only one shot on goal the entire game.

But that single scoring opportunity proved to be the difference, as senior striker Katherine Pawlak’s goal off of a corner kick in the 74th minute held up as Westford won its first sectional title since 1999 with a 1-0 upset over the Raiders.

“We play games like this all season, so we need to thank our Dual County League opponents for preparing us for this game,” said coach Tracy Capone of Westford (16-1-2). “(Our seniors) have been preparing for this moment for three years and the girls went out and got it done.”

Central Catholic (18-1-1) came close to taking a lead midway through the second half, but keeper Emma O’Sullivan made a diving save on a Sarah Freeman shot from in close. And later in the half, Pawlak gathered the loose ball in the box off of a Maeli Cherry corner kick and buried it past Central keeper Mary Gerard.

With the clock ticking down to zero, O’Sullivan saved her best for last as she extended to her left to knock away a header by Adrianna Niles. The rebound landed on the right foot of Freeman, but her shot clanged off the crossbar as time expired.

King Philip 3, Newton South 2 (2 OT) — The No.5 Warriors had just two wins two years ago. Last night at Whitman-Hanson High, they hoisted the Div.1 South championship trophy after toppling the No.2 Lions in double overtime.

The Warriors (20-1-2) got the coveted golden goal in the 95th minute when Makayla Griffin toed a shot toward the far corner of the net.

With a 1-0 deficit in the first half, the Warriors kicked it into gear, scoring two goals in a three-minute span to gain their first lead. But Newton South (20-1-0) tied it in the 61st minute on a goal by Audrey Lavey.

Archbishop Williams 2, Dover-Sherborn 1 — Senior Abby McCulloch is often on the other side of penalty kicks. But yesterday, the topseeded Bishops called upon McCulloch, who played in the field instead of her usual goalie position, to attempt the fifth penalty-kick in the Div, 3 South final.

McCulloch came up clutch, converting her chance to give the Bishops (19-1-2) their first sectional title since 2004.

To start the shootout, Dover-Sherborn’s Olivia Maier and Kristen Burke exchanged tallies before Kaylee Walsh made two big stops in net for the Bishops. Cerys Balmer kept D-S (13-45) alive, and that set the stage for McCulloch.

After Maier and Chigozie Sumani tallied goals nearly two minutes apart within the first seven minutes of play, the two sides remained deadlocked for the next 93 minutes due to the play of D-S goalie Sabrina Doyle (11 saves).

In Div. 2 South semifinal action, Emily Tucker scored twice to power No.5 Notre Dame of Hingham (15-4-2) to a 2-0 win against No. 9 Medfield (13-6-2) . . . . Audrey Cobb, Meghan Foley and Abigail Murphy scored as No. 2 Medway (16-2-2) erased an early one-goal deficit and went on to defeat No. 3 Somerset Berkley, 3-1.