DS Stars take section championship

Last Thursday evening the Dover-Sherborn Stars sixth grade girls team faced Newton in the Boston Area Youth Soccer Section 1A season finale. Both teams had outstanding seasons, with Newton coming into the game one point ahead atop the overall standings. These tightly-matched teams had played to a 1-1 draw in a spirited game in October.

From the starting kickoff, the DS girls played stifling defense, with Kate Hammerness, Erica Hills, Lucy Moss and Lilly Stocks shutting down repeated threats. Goalkeeper Brooke Canty ranged widely in the penalty box to intercept long passes, and, in what was Newton’s best chance, goalkeeper Emma Williams darted across the face of her goal to parry a shot on target for the top right corner. Despite giving up a few inches in height, Tessa Broderick and Sasha Ceol battled to win loose balls and controlled the flow of play through the midfield. Attackers Sophia Chittick, Caitlin Driscoll, Caetlyn Embree and Caroline Guillette put constant pressure on the Newton defense, stringing together passing combinations that led to several shots on goal. Excellent goalkeeping from Newton prevented any breakthrough for DS.

With the game headed to a scoreless draw, DS made one last push into the Newton end, earning a corner kick. Sent into the middle of the penalty box, the ball ricocheted to the foot of Chittick, who coolly slotted a shot into the right side of the goal, rippling the net. The DS sideline erupted, with injured teammate Maggie Delaney leading the cheers. Twenty seconds later the final whistle blew, securing a hard-fought, gritty win for DS.