Photo: Belmont HIgh School advance to its first MIAA Final Four since 2010 by defeating number one ranked Needham, 4-2. They await a semifinals vs. Natick on Tuesday, Nov. 18 in Woburn.
On paper, an eight-seed beating a number-one ranked team in the state would be considered an upset.
But in Needham Thursday night in the Elite Eight round of the MIAA Div. 1 Girls Soccer state championships, make no mistake: the better team wore “Belmont” on its shirt.
In a thrilling late afternoon match under the lights between two top rated squads in the state, Belmont High captialized on its chances with two goals in each half to down host Needham High Rockets to launch its trajectory into the tournament’s Final Four with a convincing 4-2 victory on a field Needham had been undefeated this season.
“You shocked the world,” said Belmont High Head Coach Jemmy Cange sitting on the pitch with his team and coaches after the game. “They didn’t give us a chance against a number one team,” Cange said later. “But we are a team with a big heart and that means a lot in the playoffs.”
Belmont (17-2-2) will meet four seed Natick High (14-3-3) on Tuesday, Nov 18, at 4:45 p.m. at Woburn High School Stadium, 88 Montvale Ave. The game marks 15 years since the last time the Marauders played in a state semifinal when it faced Medfield in 2010.
Belmont’s youngsters came to the fore as sophomore midfielder Cassie Griener recorded a brace – including the game winner – 9th grader Mackenzie Teirney put the icing on the cake with a late goal, and first year Ruth Christensen was steady between the posts, coming in for Belmont’s injured starting keeper Martha Dimas.
But it was Belmont’s talisman, scoring ace Danica Zicha, whose presence on the grounds was the X Factor, that unique talent who tilted the game to Belmont’s advantage. Despite Needham providing a dance partner for her throughout the game, Belmont’s number 10 still garnered an upmost attention from the Rockets allowing Danica’s teammates with opportunities in the Rockets half of the field. Her speed and strength on the ball saw her directly involved in Belmont first three goals.
After an auspicious start for the hosts, a goal in the first 30 seconds – through sophomore Sydney Kalaw – of the opening whistle, Belmont steadied themselves. With Needham playing with numbers in the front seeking a second tally, Belmont would find wide tracts of space to exploit the Rockets lack of defenders with quick breaks into the Rockets end.
Belmont would take advantage of Needham’s lapse for its first goal: on the break, Zicha took a picture perfect 30 yard pass from midfielder Madhavi Ramadas on the run, rounded her defender and, on her favorite right foot, blasted at Rockets’ outstanding first-year keeper Maggie Peterson who parryed the ball onto a rushing Griener. Her one-timer snuck under Peterson to even the score at the 34 minute mark.
Belmont came close twice more – a great close-in save by Peterson off Griener and a weak strike with an open net – as the Marauders began taking the measure of Needham.
Every team on the road to a championship benefits from at least one moment of good fortune. As a Needham defender was clearing the ball from the goal area with 13 minutes remaining in the first half, the kick hit an on-rushing Zicha and slingshot straight into the net, reminisant to a goal in the Women Euros four years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JO5nNne4UII (start video at 1:14)
“I’d be lying that I had planned it,” said Zicha of her 36th goal this season. “But a goal’s a goal, right?” she quired matter-of-factly.
But to write off the Rockets after 40 minutes would be total folly, as Needham require only four minutes into the second half to square the contest at two when Sam Levine’s cross found Michelle Faynstein who cut in front of Christensen to head the ball into the net.
But the tie wouldn’t last long. A long pass by Tierney found Zicha who spun away from her marker and it was off to the races. Alluding four defenders, Zicha’s bullet from 15 yards out was barely deflected by Peterson before hitting the crossbar. The ball rebounded to the waiting Griener who bundled the ball in from five yards out to put Belmont back into the lead at 30:37.
For the last 30 minutes, it was up to the Marauders quartet of defensive stalwarts – seniors Farah Harris and Ashley Waters, junior Elizabeth Schreiner and sophomore Vianne Capitani – fronting Christensen, who was starting her first game of the season. Needham was at its most opportunistic on set plays and corner kicks which they held a 10-1 advantage, coming close twice after Belmont took the lead.
In the midfield, a pair of juniors stood out with their ability disrupt Needham’s attack and transitioning to the offense. While Madhavi Ramadas is known for her polished ball skills – especially her deft passing – Zoe Merion gave the Marauders an edge with that willingness to conduct an all-out battle for possession. Both effectively used their quickness to get to the ball first while winning the majority of 50/50 challenges. As time ground down on the scoreboard, neither team held the upper hand with shots coming from distance or being blocked.
But Belmont would have the final word as with six minutes remaining, two first years contributed. From the throw in, first year midfielder Clara Sciandra headed for the baseline and sent a pin-point pass to an open Tierney who one-timed the ball that Peterson blocked back to the first year starter. Tierney didn’t waste her second chance, burying the ball into the net with 6 minutes left.
When the final whistle blew, unqualifed joy and excitment erupted as players engulfed a somewhat stunned Christensen. When an MIAA official attempted to give the winners their final four trouphy and banner, no one was sure what to do with them. But that was sorted away when everyone took photos of them with the silverware.
“We are going to celebrate tonight and at school [Friday],” said Cange. “But we are going back to work on Saturday. We have unfinished business to take care of.”
