THE MHS girls’ soccer team is returning to the Div. 2 tournament after securing 8 wins this season. Brackets will be announced this Friday. (photo by Raj Das edphotos.com)
After press time:
Melrose defeats Dartmouth 2-1 in the preliminary round of the Div. 2 MIAA State Tournament (Nov. 3)
Follow more updates here.
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
PEABODY — In their final game of the regular season on Monday afternoon, the Melrose High girls’ soccer team tied host Peabody, 0-0, in a non-league match-up.
“It felt like a playoff game,” said Melrose head coach Rob Mahoney. “It was a cold, windy day. We had more chances then them but just couldn’t score.”
With that result, Melrose finished at 8-8-1 overall while the Tanners finished at 5-6-7. Peabody is in Division 1 while Melrose is in Division 2.
Mahoney was pleased with the way his backs Jill Frawley and Alex Leeman played.
Melrose goalkeeper, Lilah Croach, made three saves to go to 6-5-2 in net.
In the Middlesex League finale, Melrose blanked host Watertown, 2-0, on Oct. 23 as they were able to complete the season sweep over the Raiders.
In the seventh minute, Abby Taylor scored.
The score stayed 1-0 until there was just over two minutes remaining in the game as Sophie McElligott got the insurance goal. Katie Leeman assisted on that tally.
Croach turned back five shots on goal.
“They played us much stronger then the first time we faced them,” recalled Mahoney.
With that victory, Melrose finished at 8-7-1 in the Middlesex League. They came in second place in the ML Freedom division behind Wilmington as they went 7-2-1.
After the result against Peabody, Melrose is ranked 30th in the MIAA Division 2 power rankings. The top 32 teams automatically qualify for the state regardless of overall record.
On Friday, Melrose will find out who they will face in the first round of the state tournament.
