Girls’ soccer falls to North Middlesex 2-1 in heartbreaking first round matchup

NORTH READING’s tough loss in the Div. 3 state tournament brings to an end a terrific season in which they went 15-2-2 overall and won the CAL title. (Eric Evans Photo)

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

NORTH READING — The season came to a heartbreaking end for the North Reading High girls’ soccer team on Tuesday as they were upset, 2-1, by visiting North Middlesex in the MIAA Division 3 First Round on an unseasonably warm evening.

With the loss, the 6^th-seeded Hornets ended the year at 15-2-2. Meanwhile, 27th-seeded North Middlesex improved to 10-7-3.

The visitors scored the game’s first goal 7:06 in as Amelia Hamilton scored, unassisted.

“Not playing for over a week, might have played in role in a slow start as they caught us flat on a cross to score early,” said Hornets head coach Sean Killeen.

North Reading tied the game 5:10 into the second half as Kiersten Higgins found the back of the Patriots net assisted by Julia Scammon.

“The team came out focused and organized at the start of the second half ,” said Killeen. “You could feel the momentum shift.  Sparked by the return of Reilly (Tassinari), we started to find seams in the defensive line and increased the pressure that led to the goal.”

KIERSTEN HIGGINS scored NR’s lone goal in their heartbreaking 2-1 loss to North Middlesex in the Div. 3 state tournament. (Eric Evans Photo)

The Patriots then scored the game-winning goal with only 1:36 left in the game off a corner kick.

“Corners can be challenging for us,” said Killeen. “We do not have great size and do not play particularly well in the air.”

Hornet goalie, Macy Kurchian, made three saves to end the year at 15-2-2 in net.

Also hurting the Hornes cause was when Allie Lanciani went down with an injury early on as she is one of the team’s top scorers.

“It was difficult to watch a key player in your offensive attack go down,” admitted Killeen. “The injury definitely knocked us back on our heels, but the team responded very well.”

After the final horn went off the Patriots celebrated.

“It is what makes the tournament so much fun: good competition and the need to win to move on creates an electric atmosphere,” said Killen. “Unfortunately, we came out on the wrong end of the game tonight, which is too bad because we wanted to make a deep run in the tourney.”