MILTON – It has been a really lengthy highway again for Milton’s Sahana Zauls.
However when the junior was referred to as upon Thursday, the women soccer star made her second depend, sniping a pair of objectives to ship the sixth-seeded Wildcats their first playoff win since 2017 with a 4-1 victory over No. 27 Marshfield.
“This group has labored so laborious,” stated Zauls. “Everyone on the group has been placing in a lot effort. Throughout practices, throughout video games, we’ve all tried our greatest. So it’s actually good to see it repay.”
Issues didn’t begin off so nicely for Milton (6-6-7), as the varsity discovered itself in a defensive battle with the Rams to open play. Within the thirty first minute, Marshfield (9-9-3) capitalized, as a free kick by senior Rowan Malvey skipped off a Wildcats defender into the web to make it a 1-0 contest. Out of the blue, Milton was on its heels in a nail-biter.
“I believe we had been a bit of disenchanted,” stated Milton coach Kevin Gorham. “We performed a bit of slower than how we usually play within the first half. It wasn’t a real reflection of our group as a complete, and our season and the way we carried out. So I believe with the massive crowd that was right here tonight, I believe we felt a bit of dangerous. We knew we may come out and do a greater job within the second half.”
Zauls missed all of final season and nearly all of the 2025 marketing campaign with a torn meniscus and an MCL harm. The junior got here again late within the yr, and helped her group clinch a excessive seed within the Div. 2 discipline.
Simply moments into the second half, she struck. The junior buried a shot, knotting the rating at 1-all within the forty seventh minute.
Shortly thereafter, the Wildcats had been awarded a nook kick within the 58th minute. Freshman Natalie Gallagher collected the ball, then potted a shot as Milton leaped forward, 2-1.
“I’ve a variety of religion in Natalie Gallagher,” stated Gorham. “As a freshman, she’s been beginning just about all season lengthy. She’s performed a number of roles, a number of roles inside our completely different formations. She’s executed rather well for us this yr.”
From that second on, the Wildcats managed the tempo. The referees even stopped the clock at one level within the 72nd minute, including 4 extra for good measure.
It didn’t matter. Seconds later, Milton was awarded a penalty kick try as Marshfield goaltender Talia Scardina tried to make a game-saving save throughout a breakaway bid with a sliding dive.
After battling an ACL harm herself in latest weeks, senior Noelle Gorham stepped in, and sniped a shot to ice issues as Milton seized a 3-1 lead.
Within the 78th minute, Zauls put the cherry on prime by placing residence her second purpose, and the Wildcats had been sure for the Spherical of 16.
Milton will face No. 11 King Philip subsequent.
“I believe this was in all probability our hardest sport,” Noelle Gorham stated. “I believe we are able to do it (from right here on out).”
