HANOVER — When a program wins a championship, there’s at all times that looming query about repeating.
Hanover is 2 wins away attaining that purpose.
Senior captain Eva Kelliher sniped a pair of targets, together with the game-ending tally in penalty kicks (3-1), as third-seeded Hanover superior to the Div. 3 Final Four with a 3-2 shootout victory over No. 11 Weston.
“It’s definitely a high-stake game,” Kelliher mentioned afterward. “It’s playoffs, there’s nothing after this. It’s kind of it. But we’ve definitely had big wins throughout the season, and I think those definitely helped us get to this point.”
While each colleges had alternatives scattered all through the opening half, Weston (12-4-5) discovered itself struggling to get clear photographs on web. Meanwhile, Hanover (20-0-1) capitalized in transition to open play, as a shot by the Hawks struck the proper publish. However, the ball ricocheted proper to the foot of Kelliher, who buried the rebound to offer her group a 1-0 lead within the ninth minute.
Then, the scoring opened up within the waning phases of the preliminary body. Senior standout Sophia Foley corralled a cross, noticing she had some area to work with within the thirty second minute. She uncorked a shot from about 30 yards out, which skipped off a diving Brady Jacobson in web. The ball clanked off the crossbar, then settled within the twine as Hanover made it a 2-0 ballgame.
However, as rapidly because the Hawks had seized momentum, Weston was to counter. As she sprinted up discipline, junior Emma Darling evaded Hanover goaltender Natalie Mutschler whereas sustaining possession. She slid a shot into the again of the online, because the Wildcats reduce it to a 2-1 recreation on the break.
Weston opened the second half with a flurry of photographs, however the equalizer didn’t arrive till the seventy fifth minute, when a Wildcat was tripped up within the field. Olivia Rome capitalized for the Wildcats, sniping the penalty kick to power additional time.
Thanks to spectacular performances from each goaltenders with Mutschler and Jacobson buying and selling unbelievable saves, neither college was capable of finding the successful tally. The shootout then commenced. After Hanover took a 2-1 lead by means of three rounds, Kelliher stepped as much as take her try and picked her goal. The ball skipped off the keeper’s outstretched fingers and into the twine, and the senior rotated to have a good time along with her teammates. Still undefeated and really a lot alive, the season would keep it up for the Hawks.
“It was definitely very stressful,” Kelliher mentioned. “I knew going into it, I had to make the kick. You have to do it for your teammates. The goalie definitely tuned in for it, but you just have to put the ball in the net.”
Most anticipated the Div. 3 ladies soccer playoff discipline to be top-heavy this fall, and the highest 4 groups will vye for the crown. Hanover will face No. 2 Dover-Sherborn within the Final Four.
“All credit to the teams that have advanced,” mentioned Hanover coach Mary Culllity. “It’s nice to be apart of that group. You see the top-four push through. It’s a competitive bracket this year. We’re just happy to be part of it. We’re hoping to get just one more win, then, onto the next one.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com