Saturday’s Western Massachusetts Division 3 girls soccer championship will oppose programs with different histories in sectional title games.
Top-seeded South Hadley (19-0-1) has won two straight Western Mass. titles, while No. 2 Mahar (18-1-2) will be making its first championship appearance.
The teams didn’t play in the regular season, but South Hadley coach Rich Marjanski watched the Senators’ Delaney Parker score three goals against Hampshire Regional in a double-overtime semifinal win Tuesday.
“She is an all-state player,” Marjanski said. “We have to keep our eyes on her. She has some similarities to girls we have played this year, like Tenesse Murphy from Monson. You have to have someone in the back. We are going to play her like we play Nora Young (from Granby). … We aren’t going to change anything, but we are going to make sure we have help on her.”
The Tigers earned a spot in the final by defeating Monson in the semifinals Wednesday thanks to a second-half goal from senior Reese Carey.
The Senators defeated fourteenth-seeded Drury, 2-0 in the first round and sixth-seeded Mount Greylock, 1-0, in the quarterfinals.
South Hadley boasts a senior-heavy starting 11 this season. Although many of the team’s starters have experienced tournament soccer before, some of the team’s younger key players like Elyse Manzi, a sophomore, and full back Emma Sanford, a freshman, don’t have as much experience.
“At first I think they were a little nervous, but the good thing about our seniors and juniors is that they’ve been here before,” Marjanski said. “They’ve been talking to the younger kids and letting them know what’s going to happen. It’s a journey. It’s good because as many seniors I have, I have juniors that help as well.”
Manzi has stepped up this season and made her presence felt with a goal in the quarterfinal against Hoosac Valley.
Coming into the season, Sanford’s contribution wasn’t expected to be as prominent as it has been.
“The best thing about her is that she has improved so much,” Marjanski said. “If I wasn’t senior-heavy this year, she would be a starter. We don’t skip a beat, we improve when she comes on. She’s like a sponge right now. She is learning from the upperclassman. When she comes in, she has a strong foot.”
South Hadley has found success throughout the season with attacking play from their full backs, Jaiden Luis and Hailey Werenski, but the team’s veteran core is in its midfield and forward units.
Doolittle led the team in scoring during the regular season and has been an integral goal scorer and playmaker from the central midfield. Carey, Teagan Gawron, Paige Marjanski and Lindsay Marjanski, among others, have played a big part in the team’s offensive success.
“In the middle is where we should have the most success,” Marjanski said. “The speed is the thing that carries us over the edge. Teams can defend the middle but we have three midfielders that can attack at once, especially with through balls.”
Gage Nutter can be reached at gnutter@gazettenet.com. Follow him on Twitter @GageNutterDHG.