WMass Div. 3 Girls Soccer: Mahar reaches 1st final with 2OT victory

HOLYOKE — The historic run for the Mahar Regional School girls soccer team will continue with a chance to win Franklin County’s first-ever sectional championship.

The third-seeded Senators defeated No. 2 Hampshire Regional High School, 4-3, in double overtime in the Western Mass. Division 3 semifinals at a frigid Roberts Field Sports Complex on Tuesday night.

Delaney Parker capped off a hat trick, scoring in the second overtime on a breakaway to send the Senators into the championship game.

“I’ve been having trouble placing it into the corner lately,” Parker said of the game-winning goal. “But I got it and I was so excited.”

Parker threw both hands up, jumping into the air before getting mobbed by her teammates. Carra Fitzgerald sent the ball through the defense for Parker to run onto it, sending the school through to its first-ever girls soccer final.

“It’s a play we’ve been working on in practice,” Mahar coach Chad Softic said. “Carra hit the ball with her head up in space and made that great through ball and Delaney just buried it.”

Mahar (18-1-2) will play either top-seeded South Hadley or No. 5 Monson in the WMass final on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Springfield Central High School’s Berte Field. The Tigers and the Mustangs play today back at Holyoke High School at 7 p.m. in the other Div. 3 semifinal.

“We are going to have to get really pumped up,” Parker said. “Have a few really good practices. No slacking. Make sure we have deep focus for the whole week.”

Fitzgerald had three assists for the Senators. No Franklin County girls soccer team has ever won a sectional championship, and Athol High School was the last team from the Recorder area to make it to the championship game back in 2013.

“They just played,” Softic said. “Just like I thought they would. We kind of struggled at midfield but I don’t think we lost our composure. We kept grinding and looking for our next opportunity.”

The Senators were not just content reaching the semifinals for the first time in program history.

“We showed up to play,” Mahar’s Natalie Belloli said. “I don’t think we let the cold (weather) get in the way of what we’ve been working for this whole season.”

Belloli started the game with long sleeves and wind pants but by the end she was down to her regular uniform. Belloli warmed up in the game, securing Mahar’s midfield from all over the field.

“We definitely put our emotion into winning this game,” Belloli said. “That’s why we won it. I realized that if I play every part of the position, not just mine, it would really pay off. As I did it, it just got hotter.”

The Red Raiders held possession for most of the game, but the Senators took advantage of every opportunity.

The icy, cold wind played a factor, according to Softic.

“In a way the wind helped,” Softic said. “We had packed it in but the ball helped and was jumping and getting out of bounds. In a condensed field with so many defenders, it was tough to create space for real quality opportunities.”

Maddie Lloyd played another effective game, protecting Mahar’s goal with 15 saves.

With regulation about to end, Brynn Adams knocked a potential goal away before Lloyd made another stop on a point-blank opportunity to send action into overtime tied 3-3. 

The Senators scored three first-half goals and led 3-2 at halftime.

Under assault almost the entire game, the Senators’ defense once again got just enough stops to give the team a chance.

The defense also contributed to the stat sheet. After Hampshire tied the game, 2-2, Fitzgerald sent the kickoff back to set piece specialist Gracie Rich.

“With the wind, we were just trying to pound it into the box,” Softic said. “A quick counter after goal. Gracie (Rich) can hammer it.”

Rich launched a pass attempt near Hampshire’s goal from beyond midfield, and the wind took it all the way into the back of the net for a 3-2 advantage.

“I kicked it really far and the wind just happened to take it right over the goalie’s head,” Rich said. “I was speechless. I just watched it happen and everyone ran over and hugged me.”

Hampshire had 21 shots during the game compared to 14 for the Senators.

“We really just played our best today,” Rich said.

Parker opened the scoring with an unassisted goal just outside the 18-yard line in the 12th minute of the first half.

Hampshire tied the game on a goal by Kayla Lukasiewicz with 17 minutes, 23 seconds left in the first half.

Parker had the answer for the Senators with a breakaway goal at 13:49 of the first half.

Madelyn Pond’s goal for Hampshire made it 2-2.

Katie Taylor made seven saves in net for the Raiders.

The Raiders tied the game, 3-3, in the second half on a goal by Maggie Rubeck with 27:43 left in the game to send the match into overtime.

Mahar 4, Hampshire 3 (2 OT)

Goals: (M) Parker 3, Rich. (H) Rubeck, Lukasiewicz, Pond.

Assists: (M) Fitzgerald 3.

Saves: (M) Lloyd 15. (H) Taylor 7.