Published September 22, 2023


Off to perfect start in early season

THE MELROSE HIGH girls’ soccer team is off to a perfect start. On Tuesday sophomore Sophia McElligott scored a hat trick against Watertown. (photo by Raj Das edphotos.com)

 

 

 

Updates post-publication:
Melrose defeats Wakefield 2-0 (Sept. 21)
Melrose defeats Marblehead 1-0 (Sept. 23)
Melrose defeats Burlington 3-2 (Sept. 27)

 

 


By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI 

MELROSE—On Tuesday night, September 19, the Melrose High girls’ soccer team blanked host Watertown by a final score of 4-0. With that win, the Red Raiders improved to 3-0 overall and in the Middlesex League.

Melrose’s Ellie Deeble had the first goal with just over six minutes left in the first half. Ella Callahan assisted on the tally. Five minutes into the second stanza, Sophie McElligott made it 2-0 with an unassisted goal.

Five minutes later, McElligott found the back of the Watertown net for the third goal, assisted by Chloe Mahoney. 

McElligott completed her hat trick with nine minutes left and that goal was unassisted. 

“She played pretty well,” said Melrose head coach Rob Mahoney, about the sophomore center-midfielder. “She didn’t force any of her shots.” 

McElligott led the team in goals last year as she was a Middlesex League All-Star as a freshman. 

Melrose goalie Kate Stratford made three saves to improved to 3-0 as she posted her third-straight shutout. 

On Sept. 14, in the home opener at Fred Green Memorial Field, Melrose shutout guest Reading, 3-0, in another night game. Melrose scored once in the first half and twice more in the second. 

Mahoney had the lone goal of the first half midway through and that tally was unassisted.

Deeble, a senior captain, had the other two goals. Her first goal came with 15 minutes left in the game and it was unassisted. 

The other goal came with three minutes left and was assisted by Lily Nolan. “It was a good performance,” said coach Mahoney. “Reading is a physical team but we showed a lot of maturity.” 

Stratford turned back two Rocket shots on net.

In the season opener on Sept. 12th, Melrose edged host Belmont 1-0. Mahoney had the game’s lone goal early on in the second half and that goal was unassisted. “Belmont is a very strong team and I was proud of the focus out team showed,” said coach Mahoney.

Stratford made three saves against the Marauders. 

On Thursday night (Sept. 21st), Melrose will host Wakefield at 6:30 looking to reach a 4-0 record. On Sept. 23, Melrose visits Marblehead with that non-league game starting at 10 am.

Melrose returns to Middlesex League action on Sept. 27 as they invade Burlington, with that contest starting at 7 pm.