Junior Elo Luczkow (pictured) corrals the ball and cuts up field on a break. Photos by Mike Flanagan.
By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Dover-Sherborn High School varsity girls soccer traveled to TVL Small rival Medway on Wednesday evening for their 2021 season-opener.
Medway goalie Shannon Mejia was the star of the show early on. With DS controlling tempo for the majority of the first half, Mejia stood tall with a series of big saves. The biggest save by Mejia came with around 13 minutes remaining in the half. After turning aside a shot from junior mid Elo Luczkow from outside the box, the ball rebounded to an awaiting Sara Worcester at the net-mouth. The freshman Worcester uncorked a righty boot destined for the top-left corner of the net that was batted away by a leaping Mejia to keep the game scoreless.
Still scoreless with time winding down in the half, DS finally broke through on Mejia. Junior forward Marty Phillips took possession at midfield and delivered an absolutely perfect ball through a series of Medway defenders up the left wing for a streaking Waverly Sumner. The junior forward rushed in, gathered the ball with her left foot and deposited home a perfect shot off the far right post and in to give the Raiders a 1-0 lead with 2:04 to play before halftime. DS maintained their 1-0 edge at the half.
Rather than sit back and play conservatively, DS maintained its intensity and dominance in possession throughout the second half. With about seven minutes remaining, a great single effort by Luczkow led to an opportunity to put the game away. After breaking up a pass in her own end, Luczkow made a series of Medway defenders miss and broke in on the left wing for a one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Luczkow faked right and put a lefty shot on net that beat Mejia but was turned aside by the left post. Medway cleared the rebound and the game remained 1-0.
With intensity rising and play becoming more physical in the waning minutes, the Raiders locked down the center of the field and forced Medway to navigate to the outside in search of the tying goal. Medway was unable to penetrate the Dover-Sherborn defensive line or produce any legitimate scoring opportunities late. Time ran out and the Raiders prevailed by the 1-0 final.
For funny and incisive sports analysis as well as video highlights of games, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter and Instagram handles @flano0.
