The 8th-seeded Belmont Girls’ Soccer team’s storybook season finally came to an end at Woburn High on Tuesday evening. The girls battled the cold weather and a powerful Natick team, losing 5-0, in the MIAA Division 1 Final Four..
The 4th-ranked Redhawks have reached three straight state semifinals and won the tournament twice in the last five years. Boasting an attacking trio of All-American Nicole Proia and state all-stars Abby McCauley and Proia’s sister, Lydia, the Redhawks proved too much for the Marauders (17-3-2), ending Belmont’s best postseason run since 2010.
The Marauders started the same lineup as they had all tournament long. Captain Martha Dimas started in goal, behind a back line of Captain Ashley Greiner, Farrah Harris, Vivi Capitani, and Elisabeth Schreiner. Zoe Marrion, Cassie Greiner, and Madhavi Ramadas started in the midfield, and captain Danica Zicha, Nora Goulding, and Mackenzie Tierney started up top.
After a tight first 20 minutes, Natick’s Nicole Proia beat her marker down the left wing and squared it across to Kerrington Sheriff, who slotted into the bottom corner to open the scoring. Belmont stayed in the game, but Greiner and Zicha both saw their shots stopped.
Sheriff put home a second goal and would have completed her hat trick eight minutes later, but she was denied brilliantly by Dimas. Dimas could only do so much and was beaten by Abby McCauley with essentially the last kick of the half. Natick went into the break up 3-0.
In the second half, Belmont piled on the pressure, but it was Natick who piled on the score, as Maddie Bonner converted her rebound following another impressive save from Dimas. Proia scored again two minutes later to make it 5-0, and Natick held on to win comfortably.
Belmont and Natick evenly split the possession battle, and Belmont had more corner kicks (9-6). They had four fewer shots on goal (13-9) but were able to consistently create chances. The only difference was the finishing.
Belmont’s midfield forced numerous turnovers and created ample scoring opportunities. Capitani and Schreiner, who will both return next year, played well in the back line.
Natick will take on either Franklin or Concord-Carlisle in the MIAA Division 1 State Final on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 10 a.m. at Doyle Field in Leominster.