LEOMINSTER — There was some extent halfway by way of the second half of Tuesday’s Division 2 women soccer semifinal the place No. 2 Longmeadow was in critical hazard of seeing a two-goal lead slip away.
Lancers coach Gina Pantuosco wasn’t nervous. She knew the spine of her staff would shine by way of. And that’s simply what occurred as Emersynn Cage scored an insurance coverage objective and despatched Longmeadow into the ultimate in opposition to Duxbury with a 4-2 win.
“Our women have confirmed a lot resilience after they get scored on. Their bounce-back has been great. They’ve bought grit,” Pantuosco mentioned.
The Lancers (17-2-4) had the wind at their again within the opening 40 minutes, nevertheless it was King Philip (10-7-5) that delivered the sport’s first marker when Ella McDonald flew up the center and ripped a shot previous Ava Nuzzo within the ninth minute.
Longmeadow, nevertheless, started to steadily get the run of play with Cage lastly paying off the strain within the twentieth minute off a nook kick.
One other completely executed set piece gave them the lead with 11:13 left within the half as Riley Greenman scored off the rebound of Samantha Tracy’s free kick.
A crucial insurance coverage marker got here with halftime looming as Greenman had her hand on this one additionally. Her excellent nook discovered its approach onto Gracie DiStefano’s foot at close to point-blank vary.
“We knew the wind was going to be an element and we had been glad to have it at our backs within the first half,” Pantuosco mentioned.
The Warriors would have that wind within the second half they usually swarmed within the Longmeadow half virtually from the second half kick.
The strain practically paid off in a Claire Astorino objective 10 minutes in. Just below 5 minutes later, KP was rewarded as Ava Quintin bent her nook kick simply inside the proper put up. The Olympico reduce the result in 3-2 as KP was charging.
Then got here a superbly timed go within the midfield by Longmeadow’s Rhaya Manning. It bought Cage behind the protection and when Warriors keeper Lauren Obara gambled and missed breaking apart the play, all Cage needed to do was information one into the open web to all however insure the Lancers first state remaining berth ever.
“We’re taking it one recreation at a time, that’s how we’ve approached the entire season. Every spherical will get a bit of sweeter and we’re extremely proud,” Pantuosco mentioned.
