Lady Cs Move on; Girls Soccer Needed a Tie or Win

All they needed was one point, a tie game. One point to qualify for districts. "But we're going for the win," said Groton-Dunstable head coach Steve Naboicheck prior to the game.

Crusaders (5-3-2, 8-8-2, Midland B) scored at 19:30 into the second half on a penalty kick by senior captain Danni Kenney to take a 1-0 lead and with the outstanding defense on both sides, it looked like Naboicheck and the girls might get the W.  

But with 2:26 remaining, Marlborough's Marissa Flynn scored the equalizer, finishing from a flurry in front of Groton-Dunstable keeper Kailyn Rekos to knot the game at 1-1.

  The locals, including yours truly, thought Marlborough's Julie Corey had scored at 20:00 of the first half on a blast from 30 yards out. Wrong!

  Defensively, both teams were at their best but Marlborough would simply not allow enough quality shots on Panther keeper Amanda Monfalcone (3 shots) while Rekos continued coming up big, stopping nine of the 10 shots she faced.

  Teams played to a 0-0 tie earlier in the season and again played even in a game that the Crusaders needed. With the point, the Crusaders qualify for the Central Mass. tournament and must wait until Oct. 31 when tournament pairings are announced. First round action begins Nov. 2.