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By Michael Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
The Needham High School girls varsity soccer team earned a convincing 8-0 win at Norwood on Thursday afternoon thanks to a dominant performance on offense, highlighted by a two-goal, two-assist performance by junior striker Sophie Finley-Walters.
It only took six minutes for Needham to get on the board on Thursday, as junior striker Elizabeth Phelan streaked in after receiving a crisp touch pass from Tatum McShane and deposited the ball past the reach of the Norwood keeper for the 1-0 lead. Just four minutes later, Finley-Walters extended the lead to 2-0 on a right-foot strike that went bar-in off the left post.
Senior midfielder Madeleine Kelly (3) beats out a Norwood defender for a loose ball.
Just seconds after the Finley-Walters’ goal, senior captain and midfielder Izzy Barnet fired home a goal on a free kick to push the lead to three. Hannah Smith would pot a goal six minutes later off a feed from Finley-Walters to extend the Needham lead to four, followed by a second tally of the half from Finley-Walters to give the Rockets a commanding 5-0 edge at the break.
Sophomore Anda Gravlin extended Needham’s lead to 6-0 in the early minutes of the second half. The Rockets would add two more in late minutes of second half, and proceeded to go on to win by a final of 8-0.
The Rockets will look to keep up their winning ways when they take on Braintree on October 12.
For funny and incisive sports analysis, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter at @fLAno0, or read his blog at www.flannylive.wordpress.com.
