Girls’ varsity soccer moves on to playoffs

By Meghan Foley
Hometown Weekly Sports Reporter

Last Wednesday, girls varsity soccer played their final regular season game against the Weston Wildcats, tying them 1–1. The Raiders entered this game with a record of 8–8–1 and the Wildcats with 4–5–7.

The Raiders made a handful of attempts during the first half, but a bit past the midpoint of the first half, freshman Sonali Koo sent a pass to Captain Raina Patel that required skillful control by both. Patel’s shot was fast and on net from the top of the box, but Weston goalie Millie McVie quickly got her hands on the ball to block it.

Two minutes later, fellow captain Allegra Hoffmann cut past a Wildcat toward the middle and turned to take an excellent shot that was headed for just under the crossbar, but McVie jumped and was able to tip it over.

An accidental handball on behalf of the Raiders resulted in a free kick for Weston from just over 30 yards out. Eva Ferris took the kick, launching a shot over the wall to the left side of the net. Alexis Weiss dove and was able to hit the ball, but it still went in.

Only two and a half minutes later, there was confusion on the field after a shot by the Raiders. Patel had been running after a high pass from Raedyn Garzone and hit it over the goalie, the ball hitting the ground behind her and then bouncing back up and appearing to go in the top right corner. However, the goalie seemed so casual about the shot and retrieved the ball from behind the net.

While the goalie went to get the ball for what I was expecting to be a goal kick, however, Koo, Patel, and Hoffmann were speaking to the ref and after a moment, the Raiders began celebrating and it was clear that a goal had been called. With 6:04 remaining in the half, the game was now tied 1–1.

But before the half ended, the Dover-Sherborn offense had another great attempt. Garzone sent a pass to Patel, who brought it into the box and dribbled past McVie, but went down while battling with the defense. They attempted to get the ball out but inadvertently put it right in front of Koo, who stepped up and took a solid one-timer that went just too high and hit the crossbar.

In the second half, Piper Abbett got in net, and had several good saves early on, diving after a great shot Eva Ferris took from just under 35 yards out, and another time coming out just enough to make the save while not getting herself too far from the net. Both teams had a few more opportunities, particularly one good try by the Raiders in the Wildcats’ box, but neither were able to put away another goal and left the game tied 1–1.

Finishing 10th in Division 3, the Raiders qualified for the playoffs and began the post-season yesterday.