Post publication update:
Melrose (No. 17) falls to Minnechaug (No. 16) 2-1 in first round of Div. 2 state tournament. (Nov. 4)
To view the full bracket, tap here.
Published October 31, 2025
Soccer girls enter playoffs on 5-game winning streak
Playoff brackets expected on Saturday
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
MELROSE—The Melrose High girls soccer team is ready to embark on another Div. 2 playoff run, as their regular season has closed and they await Div. 2 playoff brackets to be released by weekend’s time. They will enter playoffs riding a 5 game winning streak, including two back-to-back wins over ML Freedom rivals last week.
It was a successful Senior Night for the team on Monday evening as they edged Watertown, 1-0, to complete the season sweep over the Red Raiders at Fred Green Field.
Before the game, the nine Melrose seniors, Ella Callahan, Aisling Donegan, Lila Fauci, Abby Taylor, Emma Drago, Kiera Brophy, Addie Healy, Kayla Good and Sophie McElligott were honored.
It was also the team’s final regular season game as they finished up at 11-5-2 overall, as they anticipate the release of Div. 2 playoff brackets. They will enter playoffs with a Middlesex League record of 10-4-2 and, in the ML Freedom division, they were 7-1-1 as they came in second place, for the second year in a row, to Wilmington.
Against Watertown, Melrose’s lone goal of the night came in the 58th minute as the team’s top scorer Sophie McElligott, who scored her 16th goal of the year assisted by Emma Drago.
Kate Stratford was the Melrose goalkeeper in this one and she made two saves.
“The play was in their end 90 percent of the game,” pointed out Melrose first-year head coach Olivia Downey. “We had 21 shots total with nine of them being on net.”
Downey started all of her seniors.
Watertown fell to 2-14-2 overall and 1-10-2 in the league with the loss.
On Oct. 22, Melrose pounded host Stoneham, 6-0. It is the second time this year Melrose beat the Spartans by that same score, as they did that back on Sept. 24 at home.
McElligott had her first hat trick of the season as she scored twice in the first half and one more in the second half. Emma Drago, Abby Taylor, and Ella Beshel had the three other goals. Taylor’s came on a free kick while Drago’s came on a penalty kick.
Anna Mathews, Kiera Brophy, Lauren Healy and Katie Leeman all had one assist.
“This one was a fun one because we were able to put our players in different positions,” said Downey, who experimented once her team took command as they led 3-0 at the break.
Lilah Croach was the Melrose goalkeeper in this game as she made one stop. The brackets will come out for the MIAA Division 2 state tournament on Nov. 1st. Heading into this week Melrose was ranked 18th in the MIAA power rankings which means they will open the states on the road sometime next week.