Photo: Belmont High Girls Soccer senior Danica Zicha (number 10) scored in the season opener vs. Melrose

Belmont High Girls Soccer freshman Mackenzie Tierney has one special thing in common with her teammate, senior Danica Zicha: each scored a goal in their first high school game. The pair of forwards scored with Tierney picking up the assist on Zicha’s goal as the Marauders put in a solid performance against a physical Melrose squad to win 2-0 in the 2025 season opener held at Harris Field.

Couple the victory with an away win on Saturday, Sept. 6 against Westford Academy (the only team to beat the Marauders during last year’s regular season), 2-0, and fourth-year Head Coach Jemmy Cange continues his winning ways coming off last year’s 10-1-7 record.

“This year … we have a lot of new starters,” said Cange after seeing the team graduate double digits of players from last season. “We have a lot of great players here, a lot of great freshmen … and returning players. We should be good this season.

Zicha’s strike came midway in the first half at the end of a classic counter attack. Running strong down the middle of the field, sophomore Catherine Greiner kept possession after a challenge and found Tierney streaking down the right sideline. The first-year passed to Zicha who teed up the ball onto her right foot and directed the ball into the left side of the Melrose net.

The senior’s game-winning strike has been a long-time coming as it came nearly two years after a serious knee injury in Zicha’s sophomore season took her effectively off the pitch for nearly two years.

“It feels great because I’ve been gone for a while,” said Zicha. “[The team] has been working really hard in practice … working on connecting passes and so [scoring again] was great.”

Tierney tallied on the final kick of the game, pouncing on a rebound to secure the victory. While scoring in her Inaugural high school game, the goal was not her first wearing the crimson and white as she scored on a memorable solo breakaway against 13-win Arlington for the high school’s ice hockey team.

Also returning to the team is junior goalie Martha Dimas who suffered her own knee injury in the penultimate game of the season during which she secured 13 clean sheets.

Belmont’s speedy defenders never allowed Melrose the opportunity for a clean shot against Dimas. Junior midfielder Madhavi Ramadas turned in a standout performance with solid defending while connecting with several spot-on passes in transition.

“I’m proud with how everyone played. Danica is back and Martha was solid. Great game,” said Cange.