Published November 10, 2023
1-0 E. Longmeadow victory is first-ever at home
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
MELROSE—History was made on Saturday night as the Melrose High girls’ soccer team played its first-ever home playoff game at Fred Green Field.
Melrose hosted western Mass. opponent, East Longmeadow, in the MIAA Division 2 Round of 32 game.
It was a successful night for the home team as they won a close, 1-0, decision.
With that victory, No. 7 seed Melrose improves to 15-2-2. The 26th-seeded Spartans, meanwhile, ended the year at 4-10-5.
“They are a much better team than their record shows,” stated Melrose head coach Rob Mahoney. “We were nervous when we came out but we settled in about the 20-minute mark.”
The lone goal of the night was scored by the team’s top scorer, Sophie McElligott, who netted her 14th goal of the year in the 67th minute of the game. The tally was unassisted as she dribbled the ball around the goalie and put it home from a tough angle from the left side.
Melrose defense didn’t allow the Spartans any good chances to tie the game the rest of the way.
Earlier in the second half, Ella Callahan was fouled in the box but McElligott’s penalty kick went off the crossbar.
Melrose goalkeeper Ava Tormo made five saves in net as her record went to 10-2-2. It was her ninth shutout of the season.
Melrose recorded six shots on net.
Mahoney was very pleased with the atmosphere. “We had a really good crowd,” he said. “It was like the night a couple of weeks ago we had our Soccer Night in Melrose doubleheader with the boys team. It was cool.”
On Nov. 8, Melrose was scheduled to host No. 10 seed Oliver Ames in a Round of 16 game (results not available at press time).
Should Melrose advance against Oliver Ames, they will play the winner of the Nashoba Regional/Marlborough game in the Div. 2 quarterfinal round sometime over the weekend (time/location not known at press time.)
The winner of that game would be considered a Div. 2 Final Four Sectional winner and would bring home a trophy and continue a fight to a state final appearance.
Fans are encouraged to visit our social media pages and miaa.net for playoff updates.