The Central Catholic High School girls soccer team allowed less than half a goal per game this fall and entered the MIAA Division 1 Tournament’s round of 16 on a 17-game unbeaten streak.
Not that any of it mattered to Danica Zicha. Belmont High School’s star senior striker scored both Marauder goals in a 2-0 win Monday night at Harris Field to send the eighth-ranked Marauders to the Elite Eight and a matchup with top-ranked Needham Thursday at 5 p.m. in Needham.
“In tournament games, I’m thinking it could be my last,” Zicha said. “I’m going to get away from those defenders. It’s basically like football. I’m making runs, and when I get the ball, I’m just going to give it my all.”
Zicha — now up to 35 goals on the year — scored once in each half for the Marauders (16-2-2). The ninth-ranked Raiders (16-2-2) couldn’t convert on their limited chances.
“We know what type of player Danica is, [one] that can change games by herself,” Belmont coach Jemmy Cange said. “Everything goes through her. She just keeps fighting.”
Belmont topped Framingham 2-0 to open postseason play behind tallies from freshman Clara Sciandra and Zicha. Central Catholic cruised past Attleboro, 6-0.
Central Catholic’s lone loss came in the season opener, a narrow 2-1 defeat on the road against undefeated Bishop Feehan, the tournament’s second seed. Since then, the Raiders outscored opponents 75-6.
Most teams dedicate a player or two to mark Zicha at all times. Central Catholic deviated from the strategy. Zicha said she respected the Raiders playing the way they did. Cange was “very surprised” at their approach
“I just love when teams play the game of soccer and not having like 20 people on me,” Zicha said. “Obviously, I was marked, but just the way we connect with everyone on the field. They can’t stop our offense.”
The Marauders’ last loss came in the eighth game of the season, 1-0 vs. Lexington. An 11-game unbeaten streak, with Belmont outscoring opponents 40-8, followed.
Monday night, Belmont scored 99 seconds into the game when Zicha chased down a loose ball, chipping it above Central Catholic keeper Sarah Parker for a 1-0 lead. The Raiders’ first chance came five minutes later off a corner kick that Marauders junior goalkeeper Martha Dimas punched away.
Dimas stepped up big with 12 minutes left in the half, coming out of the goal and kicking away a Raider breakaway in a one-on-one situation. A steady drizzle turned to a monsoon with seven minutes left in the first half.
Belmont freshman Mackenzie Tierney found herself with a good chance five minutes into the second half, but didn’t get a shot off before Parker stepped in.
Dimas exited the game with an injury with 26:26 remaining in the second half. Freshman Ruth Christensen came on in relief to a large ovation. Five minutes later, Zicha added the insurance tally with a left-footed strike.
As Cange has all year, he called Zicha “the team” but singled out the midfielders and defenders as key cogs. Led by senior captain Ashley Waters, they thrive in their roles and embrace the non-goal-scoring aspects of the game.
“All the credit goes to the back four,” Cange said. “They did a wonderful job and know what it takes to win in the tournament… They came here and fought from the first minute to the last.”
In its next game, Belmont will be the underdog for the first time this postseason. It doesn’t get any tougher than a match with the top seed on their pitch. Cange said they’re not so worried about Needham, more so executing their own game plan.
“I think this team is absolutely amazing and that we can do it,” Zicha said. “This team has the biggest heart when we play. Just going in and saying this might be our last game, we just put everything in, and it’s been working.”
