As No. 14 Belmont took the field Wednesday night to open its playoff run against No. 19 Waltham, few were likely betting against them. The Marauders closed the season riding a six-game win streak, anchored by a strong senior core and headlined by senior captain Niamh Lesnik, who has committed to play NCAA Division I lacrosse at Fairfield next season.
But the Waltham Hawks proved a tougher out than expected. In the end, the Marauders weathered a fierce fourth-quarter rally that nearly ended their season, hanging on for a 14-9 win. Next up for Belmont will be No. 3 Concord-Carlisle at a date and time to be determined.
Belmont quickly fell behind when Waltham’s Avery Leeman scored the first goal. Senior all-star Mia Kearney soon doubled the Hawks’ lead, and Belmont found themselves in a 2-0 hole after four minutes.
The Marauders piled on the pressure, taking five first-quarter shots at close range, all of which were stopped by Waltham’s all-star junior goalie, Leah France. Finally, Lesnik was able to find the back of the net for Belmont with three minutes to play in the first period, and Ruth Siegert quickly added another. The teams finished the first quarter knotted at 2-2.
The Belmont Marauders, including Sienna Choi(3), Sydney Mun(8), Caroline Scanlan(12), Sienna Pond(16), Ella Calise(26), and Devyn Todaro (4) raise their sticks during a break in the opening-round MIAA tournament. (Julianne Gauron/Belmont Voice) 
Belmont’s Senior Niamh Lesnik (1) winds up for a shot on Waltham goalkeeper Leah France (25) as Sydney Mun (8) looks on during the Marauders’ opening-round MIAA tournament game. (Julianne Gauron/Belmont Voice) 
Spectators watch from the sidelines as Belmont and Waltham start at midfield after another Marauders goal during the opening-round MIAA tournament game. (Julianne Gauron/Belmont Voice) 
A Waltham player shoots on Belmont Senior goalkeeper Brooke Whalen (25) while Sophomore Gabrielle Carney (2) and Senior Fiona Rodriguez-Clark(19) come to her aid during the Marauders’ opening-round MIAA tournament game. (Julianne Gauron/Belmont Voice) 
Belmont assistant coaches Jess Smith, Kelley Williams, Noami Moskowitz Gabby Oswalk and Taylor Turner address the Marauders at halftime during their opening-round MIAA tournament game against the Waltham Hawks. (Julianne Gauron/Belmont Voice) 
On to Concord becomes the rallying cry as the Marauders leave the field after beating Waltham. (Julianne Gauron/Belmont Voice) 
Belmont players Junior Caroline Scanlan (12) and Freshman Ellie Siegert (15) converge on the Waltham goalie, Junior Leah France (25), as Marauders maintain consistent pressure on the Waltham Hawks during the MIAA tournament game. (Julieanne Gauron/Belmont Voice) 
The Belmont Marauders gather on the field during their opening-round MIAA tournament game against the Waltham Hawks at Belmont High School. (Julianne Gauron/Belmont Voice) 
Belmont players Junior Caroline Scanlan (12) and Freshman Ellie Siegert (15) converge on the Waltham goalie, Junior Leah France (25), as Marauders maintain consistent pressure on the Waltham Hawks during the MIAA tournament game. (Julianne Gauron/Belmont Voice)
The second period was a different story.
Belmont’s Maddie Tisdale started things off, scoring within 30 seconds. She would soon score her second, and Lesnik and Ellie Siegert added goals of their own. Belmont went into the half with a 6-4 lead.
Despite an early third-period goal from Waltham’s Ava Anderson, Belmont kept swarming on offense. Lesnik scored twice, and Tisdale and Ruth Siegert each added a score. Waltham’s Mia Kearney tallied one, but Belmont went into the fourth seemingly in control, leading 10-6.
Momentum shifted midway through the fourth quarter, when Ellie Siegert was penalized for a late hit on Waltham’s Sarah Pourmousa. Waltham wasted no time. Kearney took the ball up the field and completed her hat trick with a shot into the top left corner. She scored again less than a minute later, and Hannah O’Brien cut the Marauder lead to one goal, forcing Belmont coach Dan O’Brien to call a timeout.
“We’ve been in this situation before,” O’Brien said. “We’ve played in big games, and I knew that we could pull through.”
Belmont shortly got the breaks they needed. Waltham’s Kearney was sent to the penalty box for a high stick and was joined less than a minute later by her all-star teammate Quinn Gavin, who was called for slashing. Belmont took advantage, and once again, it was Lesnick who rose to the occasion, scoring three fourth-period goals. Mun added one of her own, and the Marauders would hold on to win 14-9.
“She’s a wonderful player,” O’Brien said about Lesnik after the game. “She’s always there when we’ve needed her. When she’s on, we can compete with anybody.”
