The high school fall sports season actually begins in late August with practices and scrimmages to get ready for the regular season campaigns in early September. It’s then a two-month grind of games played twice or even three times a week in the afternoons or under the lights, all for the common goal of winning a state title. But in the end, only one team in each division has a chance to celebrate that moment.
In girls soccer, there are five divisions comprised of teams throughout the state, and Marblehead is in Division 2. There are 63 teams in this division, and 42 of them made the postseason. In the final power rankings, the Magicians were seeded 10th and drew a first-round bye before getting started in the Round of 32 against Walpole. Marblehead came away with a 3-2 victory, which setup a Sweet 16 thriller last Sunday against host Oliver Ames on a rainy night in Easton.
Callie Gilmore scored the only goal in that game. It came late, but that clutch effort assisted by Lucy McDonald was more than enough to send their teammates to Longmeadow to face the second-seeded Lancers tonight (Nov. 13) in the Elite 8 game.
The home team scored two first half goals, but Callie Gilmore got one back on a penalty kick in the second half.
Unfortunately, that was it for the offense on both sides, and as a result the season that began in August is now over for coach Lisa Wales and her players. They came within just two games of that elusive state championship for most clubs in the state. But losing only twice combined with five ties in 21 games, including the postseason, should never be casually dismissed. These Marblehead girls proved throughout the last two months that they are among the best in the state.
