Girls soccer

Holden goal lifts Wildcats over Upper Cape, 2-1

Goalkeeper Reed comes up big in the win

Photos and story by Richard W. Dionne, Jr.
Posted 4/24/21

Ball girls stood draped in blankets and snow flurries blew across the field as Freshman wing Korynne Holden scored midway through the second half to lift the Westport girls soccer team over Upper …

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Girls soccer

Holden goal lifts Wildcats over Upper Cape, 2-1

Goalkeeper Reed comes up big in the win

Posted

Ball girls stood draped in blankets and snow flurries blew across the field as Freshman wing Korynne Holden scored midway through the second half to lift the Westport girls soccer team over Upper Cape Cod Votech, 2-1, during a home game on Thursday morning. The win hiked their season record to 5-3 in the Mayflower Athletic Conference.

Winning goal

Wildcats junior right winger Jesse Skov sent a cross to Holden racing down the right side of the field. Holden corralled the pass, spun and booted a right-footed, bounding shot from 20 feet out. The ball fueled by the wind, bounced 5 feet in front of the net and snuck between the goal post and Upper Cape goalkeeper Jaqueline Stuart to give Westport a 2-1 lead, with 24 minutes to play. Westport had several good chances to extend the lead, but their sparked offensive play after the score, was all the defense they needed the rest of the way. “It wasn’t intentional. I was as shocked as anyone that it went in,” said Korynne Holden. “It was meant to go for the goal. The ball was going right at the goalkeeper and then curved right into the corner. I don’t think that she expected it.” 

“Korynne came up clutch. She’s just brave and fearless in the box,” said Wildcats head coach Sheldon Thibodeau. Right before the goal, Coach Thibodeau switched up his wingers, putting Holden at right wing and Jesse Skov at left. The move seemed to work out for both players.  “We’ve been working on switching the field and getting the ball wide,” said Coach Thibodeau. “The girls were able to switch the field and make those diagonal passes. We had possession, we had tons of chances. The team just needed a break through like that.” The speedy freshman currently leads the team in scoring, with 6 goals and 1 assist. We played better as a team,” Holden said. “We  passed well. Getting the ball to each other’s feet, moving the ball upfield to score. It was a really good game for our team.”  

“The girls really stepped up, worked hard and fought for each other,” Coach Thibodeau said, “They really fought hard right down to the end of the game.”

Goalkeeper Reed comes up big

Senior goalkeeper Sophia Reed made several big saves with the game tied in the second half. Twice the athletic senior charged out and challenged Upper Cape right winger Mya Lewis, who scored earlier in the game. Reed got a piece of the ball the first time and the ball squirted out of bounds for an Upper Cape corner kick.  As the teams set up for the corner, Lewis stood right behind Reed in the goal box. Reed stretched up to catch the towering kick and Lewis jumped into her back shoving her forward. The ball bounced off Reed’s hands and fell to the ground. Upper Case forward Angelina Rodolfo promptly kicked the ball into the net. But Lewis was called for a foul, negating the goal, leaving the score tied 1-1. 

Reed stopped Lewis again moments later. Lewis dribbled down the right and broke towards the net. Reed charged and dove at the ball. Lewis jumped to avoid the goalkeeper and the ball ricocheted off Reed’s torso. She collected the ball and booted it out. “When she is aggressive and comes out of the net like that, it puts a lot of pressure on the other team and really supports our defense,” said Coach Thibodeau. Reed’s play in the second half helped to bolster the Wildcat’s defense. Eighth grade center back Tess Silvia also played well, stepping in for Sarah Perry, who was injured earlier in the game. “Tess shows a lot of poise, confidence, competitiveness and skill,” said Coach Thibodeau.  “Peyton also really stepped up today,” said Coach Thibodeau, of junior midfielder Payton Mahjoory, who was a force during the game. The sophomore helped out on defense and transitioned the ball well to the offense. 

 George ties game for Wildcats

Upper Case had beaten Westport, 2-1, on the Cape on Tuesday, and Lewis gave them another lead as she beat Reed, 17 minutes into the game. 

Two minutes later Wildcats eighth grade striker Julia George found the ball in a scrum in front of the net and blasted a shot by Stuart to tie the game, 1-1 with 63 minutes left in the game. 

“Jesse (Skov) crossed it in, Lilly (Duclos) took a shot at it. It bounced off the goalkeeper and then I finished it,” said Julia George. In her first full season with the varsity, George is tied for second on the team in scoring with 5 goals and though tiny in stature, plays ferociously on the field. “I’ve just always been aggressive when I play. It kind of just switches on.”

“It’s really nice,” George said about playing with the varsity. “It was a little scary at first, but once you get out there, it’s not that bad. I know a lot of the girls and I think that we work really well together.” 

More stats

Junior midfielder Laura Martel is tied with George and has 4 goals and an assist for the season. Junior forward Jesse Skov, who Coach Thibodeau often uses at midfielder and even defense in crucial situations, is tied for third on the team in scoring with Alora DeFonseca with 3 points a piece.  Reed has had three shutouts thus far this season. 

Busy week

Westport has three league games and a playoff game next week. The Wildcats play at home against Diman on Monday, 4/26, at home against Old Colony on Tuesday, 4/27 and travels to Old Colony on Thursday, 4/29. On Saturday, they will play a TBA playoff game.

 

 

 

 

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