A Stoneham goal in each half ended the Belchertown girls soccer season with a 2-0 loss Monday in the MIAA Division 3 quarterfinals.
“Long bus rides kill teams with regards to – not the focus – but slow starts and stuff like that. We didn’t show up to play,” Belchertown coach Kyle Thibeault said. “We couldn’t put it together. We didn’t have our ‘A’ game. We struggled connecting and playing our game.”
Spartans captain Courtney Ponzo karate-kicked in a rebound in the 25th minute after Orioles keeper Jillian DeBarge parried away the initial header off a corner. She finished with eight saves.
Stoneham’s Sabrina Sacco bent in a shot from 25 yards out in the 49th minute to double the lead.
No. 6 Belchertown put five shots on goal.
“We didn’t generate as much offense as we could,” Thibeault said.
The No. 3 Spartans will face No. 10 Dedham on Wednesday in Medway. Stoneham last reached the state final in 2019, where it lost to South Hadley.
Belchertown (12-4-5) defeated Stoneham in the quarterfinals last season at home but couldn’t repeat the result on the road this year.
“We wanted to battle and at least make it to the next round like we did last year,” Thibeault said. “I told the seniors they have no reason to hang their heads. Some people ruled us out.”
The Orioles will graduate seven seniors that led the program to a Western Mass title last season and to two deep state tournament runs.
“They helped solidify our game play and how we raise the bar every year,” Thibeault said. “They set the bar and our leadership helped us mature though this season, and next year it sets us up to compete at an even higher level.”