GREENFIELD — Elderina Cecunjanin is the newest member of the 100-point club following the Greenfield girls soccer team’s 2-2 tie with Smith Voc on Tuesday.
Cecunjanin blasted home the milestone marker during the first half, on a goal that gave the Green Wave a 2-0 advantage. The Vikings would fight back with two second-half goals of their own to push Tuesday’s contest to a draw.
While the result wasn’t exactly what Greenfield was looking for, its star striker was pleased to earn the feat within familiar territory.
“It feels amazing, especially to do it with this group of girls out here,” Cecunjanin said. “I’m just glad I got to do it on my home field, where I grew up playing.”
Cecunjanin needed just one point to reach triple figures in career points heading into the game against Smith Voc. During the Green Wave’s 5-1 victory over Palmer on Monday night, Cecunjanin slotted four points on two goals and two assists to bring her overall total to 99.
“Since I first started coaching her four years ago, she’s come a long way, especially as a leader,” Greenfield head coach Ben Johnson said. “We look to her a lot, so seeing her get her 100th point is quite an accomplishment for her and all the work that she puts in.”
The goal itself seemingly started from nothing as Cecunjanin corralled the loose ball after a Vikings goal-kick clear deflected backward, burst into the 18-yard box and unleashed a wicked, left-foot howitzer that evaded Smith Voc goalie Julianis Suarez.
Moments before, Cecunjanin had an even better scoring chance off the rush, but couldn’t find the back of the net. Luckily for the Green Wave senior, the ball found its way back in a hurry and Cecunjanin made no mistake on the follow-up bid.
“I was just really determined,” Cecunjanin said. “I just wanted to get through all the defenders. It makes it really special that it was a lefty, just because I always make goals with my right [foot].”
While Cecunjanin’s memorable goal highlighted her innate ability to find the mesh, Greenfield’s No. 10 is also a very skilled distributor of the ball, according to Johnson.
“Her vision, she is also great at passing it,” Johnson said. “She’s not just a scorer, she can look to pass and create things for her teammates as well.”
Cecunjanin revealed she likely has just as many assists as goals throughout her career with the Green Wave.
Tayler Bergeron put the hosts in front, 1-0, earlier in the first half. Bergeron also plays forward with Cecunjanin and the pair seem to have great chemistry together on the attack as they are constantly looking for open lanes to find each other.
“Dynamic duo, for sure,” Cecunjanin said. “That’s my girl. She finishes almost everything I get to her. She finds a way.”
When the passing lanes are clogged up, Cecunjanin isn’t afraid to make more room for herself by using her speed or, if necessary, her body to create space.
“She’s very strong and doesn’t lose the ball very often where she’s willing to fight for those,” Johnson said.
Smith Voc didn’t quite spoil Cecunjanin’s special game, but it certainly left a sour taste in the host’s mouths as they fumbled a 2-0 lead all within the final 15 minutes of regulation.
First, the Vikings scored on a long-range ball that looped into the air and dropped over Green Wave goalie Lexi Berry’s (13 saves) outstretched hands.
Then, the visitors knotted the score up at 2-2 with a score from within the 18-yard box that crossed the goal line with less than five minutes to go in the game.
The Green Wave still managed to pick up at least one point for the fourth game in a row, while Smith Voc has still not lost in 2025.
Now with the milestone in place, Cecunjanin will look to lead Greenfield (3-4-2) back to a ‘W’ when it hosts Holyoke on Thursday.
The Vikings (6-0-4) also return to the pitch on Thursday, with a home game against Central.
