Lady-Rockets draw with Wildcats

[ccfic caption-text format="plaintext"]

By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor

Two of the Bay State Conference’s elite met on the pitch at Cricket Field on Thursday afternoon as the Needham High School girls varsity soccer team hosted Weymouth. Two of the favorites to win the Herget Division, the Rockets (4-0-1) and Wildcats (4-1-2) did not disappoint on Thursday, as a physical match concluded in a hard-fought 2-2 draw.

Freshman sensation Caroline Hood drew first blood for Needham midway through the first half, hammering home a beautiful cross by sophomore Madeline Ledbury from the alley to give the Rockets a 1-0 lead. Weymouth tied the contest at one with a header off of a corner kick. The game entered halftime still tied at one.

Less than five minutes into the second half, freshman Lydia Pirner headed home a corner for Needham to give the Rockets a 2-1 lead. Unfortunately for Needham, Weymouth responded with a goal off of a breakaway less than 10 minutes later to re-tie the game at two, midway through the half. The Rockets continued to press late in an attempt to reclaim the lead, but Weymouth’s conservative defensive play down the stretch limited the number of offensive chances for Needham. The game ended in a 2-2 draw.

Following a 6-0 victory at Falmouth on Saturday, Needham will look to keep racking up points when the Lady-Rockets travel to rival Wellesley on September 26.

For funny and incisive sports analysis, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter and Instagram @flano0.