Sailors score long-awaited win
SCITUATE — Every team, no matter how successful, has that one opponent it just can’t shake.
For Scituate’s girls soccer program, that enemy was a Patriot League foe from a few miles west. But on Wednesday, the Sailors exorcized their demons in convincing fashion.
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Freshman Sarah Gillis notched a goal and tallied an assist, and senior Caroline Horan sniped a goal of her own, helping the top-ranked Sailors knock off rival Whitman-Hanson for the first time in nine years, 3-1, while advancing to Patriot Cup semifinals in the process.
“It’s long overdue,” Horan said. “We’ve been playing
Whitman-Hanson since my freshman year. It’s always been a good game, but we always fall short. So, it’s good to finish the game on a high, and going forward, I think we are going to be really positive playing other teams.”
After the two schools traded opportunities for the majority of the first half, Scituate struck with 4:35 left in the second quarter, as junior Brooke Pierotti gained possession, then attempted a chip shot in the direction of the Panthers’ net. The shot was too high for WhitmanHanson goalkeeper Reese Codero to tip away, as the ball fell harmlessly into the net to put the Scituate ahead, 1-0, a lead which stood until halftime.
“Because of the formation we play, we have a lot of space on the outside,” said Pierotti. “So, I was able to make a run to the back post where Kelly Horan crossed it in, and I kind of just volleyed it over.”
With just under four minutes to play in the third, Gillis made her first key play of the day, forcing WhitmanHanson into a turnover near midfield. After settling the ball down, she glanced left, and noticed teammate Caroline Horan all alone in the open field. The freshman fed the pass to the senior forward, who took a few steps before turning her head toward goal.
After picking her spot, Horan ripped a missile from 10 yards out, which found the lower right corner of the net. Suddenly, after battling all day, the Sailors (10-0-2) had some breathing room with a 2-0 lead.
Or did they? During his eight years at the helm with Scituate, Sailors coach Rob Williams has seen his fair share of comebacks. He turned to his players, urging them to maintain the pressure.
Rather than taking the foot off the gas, the Sailors turned up the tempo as the third quarter was set to expire. After picking up the assist a few moments earlier, Gillis was rewarded for her efforts, when Madison Soucey fed her the ball. With plenty of space in front of her, Gillis decided to take a shot from 20 yards deep. Her prayer was answered, as the ball drew twine to make it a 3-0 game.
Emma Poirier recorded three saves in net for Scituate.
Ava Melia registered a goal for Whitman-Hanson (9-1-2) with 12 minutes remaining in regulation, as she corralled a loose ball by the Sailors’ net and ran it in to make it a 3-1 affair.
Codero tallied eight saves for the second-seeded Panthers.
Scituate will play the winner of Saturday’s game between Pembroke and Silver Lake, hoping to continue its undefeated season.