Articles by Jack Murray

Technology

Winchester wins double overtime thriller over Beverly

WINCHESTER – With her team’s season on the line, Winchester’s Ashley Mitchell knew she needed to step up. The freshman found open space, received a pass from teammate Sophie Shapiro, and fired the ball into the back of the net to lift No. 6 Winchester to a 3-2 double overtime victory over No. 26 Beverly in the first round of the MIAA Division 1 girls soccer tournament. “I knew that we needed to score, and I saw Sophie get the ball,” Mitchell said. “So I made the run, stayed composed and took the shot.” The tally allowed the Red and Black (14-2-2) to avoid the upset from a Panthers team (12-4-2) that played above its ranking. Winchester had taken a 2-0 halftime lead, but a goal midway through the second half cut the deficit to one and then a header from Panthers sophomore Mackenzie Pouliot in the final five minutes sent the game to extra time. Winchester head coach Michelle Ross said that her team showed resiliency after losing the lead. “It was a great game and had everyone on the edge of their seat,” Ross said. “I’m really proud of the girls. They seemed to lose focus at one point, but they were able to bounce back and play the soccer they are capable of playing. Beverly gave us a really big scare.” The Red and Black dominated the first 40 minutes, limiting the Panthers to just four shot attempts while peppering Beverly goalkeeper Clara Kostro with shots. The first goal for Winchester came in the 27th minute when Rhynn Fitzpatrick Cannfield sprinted to the front of the net, corralled a loose ball off a corner kick and buried the ball into the goal. Ten minutes later, Sophie Shapiro connected with a crosser and this gave Winchester the 2-0 lead. While this was a comfortable lead, the Red and Black knew it was not one that put the game out of reach. “2-0 is a very dangerous score,” Winchester midfielder Juliet Sims said. “We have to always make sure we are trying our 100 percent best.” Winchester nearly added an insurance marker early in the second half, but an offsides negated the goal. Moments later, Olivia Anketell capitalized on a Winchester defensive lapse to cut the deficit to 2-1. This score would hold until the 77th minute, when Pouliot’s header evened the score at two and sent the game to extra time. While the situation was officially score or go home, the Red and Black took a calm approach to the overtime. “Our mindset was to leave it all out there,” Winchester midfielder Lilly Ossen said. “We have nothing to lose, and if we work together as a team and keep our composure, we can win.” The first 10 minutes came in went without either team scoring. Kostro was a huge reason why as the junior made several diving stops on strong Winchester chances to keep the game tied. Deep into the second overtime period, the dam finally broke as Shapiro’s crosser to Mitchell found twine and sent the Red and Black to the second round. Winchester will host either Concord-Carlisle or Plymouth North. Ross said her team will keep this result in mind while they prepare. “There’s a lot to be taken from this,” Ross said. “The rankings and the numbers don’t mean anything, it’s whoever wants to win more. Everybody is prepared at this stage and the games are only going to get harder.”