Woolies bully way to Div. 4 soccer title as Millis girls hold off Millbury 1-0

In a rematch of the 2017 Division 4 girls soccer state final, Millbury was ready to avenge its loss to Millis.

With one strike from sophomore forward Grace Martin, they did just that.

Thanks to Martin’s tally, the Woolies defeated the two-time defending champion Mohawks, 1-0, to capture the Division 4 state crown at Foley Stadium in Worcester.

“We talked about 2017. I said sometimes, justice, things happen. These are two good teams, [there’s] not gonna be two goals. Last year, they scored a goal on us. They got a bounce and they shut it down. I said let’s get the first goal and we’re gonna shut it down. I think there’s justice in this world,” said Millbury coach Hussein Issa.

First half chances were few and far between. Millbury keeper Keely Perry smothered a cross in front of the goal in the first minute to prevent an early Millis score. Later, Cali Brouillard slipped behind the Millis defense for a one-on-one breakaway but a poor first touch allowed Millis keeper Caileen Adams to pounce on the ball for the save.

Millis started the second half on the front foot, creating a number of chances in the first 20 minutes. Courtney Bickford nearly scored on in the opening minutes but just missed contact for a tap-in on a ball coming across goal. Shots from Jordyn Ferrantino and Sydney Bailen minutes later nearly troubled Perry and Alexi Vaillancourt just missed a free header in front of goal off a corner in the 57th minute.

With 20 minutes to go and the Millis offense bearing down on them, Millbury called timeout to regroup. The break proved to be just what the doctor ordered as Martin quickly received the ball near the 35-yard line, made a quick turn, blew by the Millis defense and blasted a shot past Adams for the game’s only goal.

“It’s a little insane,” said Martin on scoring the game-winner, “but I don’t know I just felt the pressure and felt like I had to commit to the goal.”

From there, the Millbury defense held strong for the final 20 minutes, repelling Millis’ attack until the final whistle.

“I’m proud of all of us,” said Martin, “We worked hard to get here and I couldn’t ask for a better way to go out.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2D9EHpA