BELCHERTOWN – Undefeated and unmatched, the No. 5 Belchertown girls’ soccer team kept its playoff shutout streak alive on Tuesday night.
Keepers Mabelle Bessette and Jillian DeBarge combined for seven saves to post another clean sheet for the Orioles, which blanked No. 21 Norton, 2-0, in the MIAA Div. 3 Round of 16. It was the second shutout in as many state tournament games for Belchertown.
“I think we marked up with our players, played good defense, and played as a team. We communicated really well, and then we tried to win every 50-50 ball,” said Belchertown’s Avery Klingensmith, who was one of the Orioles’ goal-scorers. “It was just a really gritty game. And then offensively, we were on the attack as well and we finished a couple of chances that we got.”
Belchertown head coach Kyle Thibeault said before the game that he anticipated the outcome of the match would come down to which team had the strongest midfield. That proved to be the Orioles for the majority of the night, though Norton did keep them on their heels a bit in the opening 10 minutes of the second half.
But with a strong home crowd behind them and constant encouragement from the bench, Belchertown was able to settle down and keep their relentless attack coming.
“I think our speed really, we’re just so fast – our wingers, they’re just going up and down the lines, and me as well,” Belchertown’s Aida Name said. “I think we just outrun everybody, and that’s our strong point.”
From the opening kickoff, that speed was on display, and the Orioles struck less than five minutes into the first half. Belchertown’s offense carried the ball to the outside of the net, and a cross from Mia Corish found Madison Da Costa right in front of the goal, where she sent a ball that trickled into a wide open corner for a 1-0 lead.
Though there were a couple of other strong chances in the first half, some sent sailing over the crossbar, others just missing a streaking player – the Orioles went into the half up by just one goal. Norton, sensing an opportunity, pushed hard in the opening second half, but Belchertown’s back line shut the eastern Mass. visitors down until the team settled back into a rhythm.
“Defensively my back four are just solid. I mean, I can’t speak enough about defense, they don’t get enough credit defensively,” Thibeault said. “I felt like we did really well transitioning in the midfield in that second half. I think we just played smart and once we got that second goal it definitely changed the course of the game.”
The second goal came courtesy of a corner kick taken by Madysen LePage, who sent the ball directly to Klingensmith. She redirected the ball into the back of the net with 23 minutes remaining in the second half for a 2-0 cushion.
Belchertown’s skill on the field was evident, but Thibeault was also impressed with his team’s passion on the bench. The Orioles brought constant energy throughout.
“This team has bought in, the senior class specifically has really bought in and they’re looking at the bigger picture. I don’t think they realize how how much that means to girls on the field and me as a coach,” Thibeault said. “They bought in, there’s chemistry there and that makes a world of difference when you’re battling other teams.”
The Orioles now await their quarterfinal round opponent, as they’ll meet the winner of Wednesday’s game between No. 4 Hanover and No. 20 Stoneham. That tilt is tentatively scheduled for Saturday.