Girls soccer gets first win

 On Monday, the girls soccer team got their first win of the season with a great game against Everett. 

After a tough start to the season against some very difficult opponents, the team was held winless for their first 7 games. After a 3-0 win against Everett and a 0-0 tie against Lynn Classical, they look to be turning the season around.

Captain Willow Phoenix says the team’s first victory has left the team optimistic for the latter half of the season. “Winning helps to build confidence, and after having a bunch of brutal losses, it really helps the morale of our team,” said Phoenix. “Winning is the spark that will hopefully ignite the rest of our season towards success!”

In Everett, Gloucester had a solid start, playing strong defense and controlling most of the first half. 

By possessing the ball for most of the first half and staying on top of the opposition, they kept a clean sheet in the first half for the first time all season.

The team was put to the test later in the game. Everett came out much stronger in the second half, creating more chances and looking like they would open up the scoring. But Gloucester didn’t back down from the test, carrying some of their momentum into the second half. They kept most of the possession and kept getting closer to scoring.

Late into the second half, sophomore Darcy Muller was bringing the ball up the field when an Everett defender took her down from behind in the box, a clear foul. 

The indirect free kick was on the edge of the 18-yard-box. Captain Graci O’Toole tapped it to Sophomore Grace Boucher who struck the ball into the net. Gloucester took the lead for the first time all season as Boucher scored her second goal of the season. 

Gloucester handled the lead very well and they didn’t slow down. They expanded their lead when Captain Willow Phoenix ran to the far post and volleyed it into the net after a cross from Junior Rumi Thomas. 

In the last five minutes of the game, Sophomore Maite Passos scored her first varsity goal that came off a rebound from a corner kick scramble. 

After an impressive first win, the team took on Lynn Classical at Manning Bowl on Wednesday.

The Fishermen had a commanding first half. They didn’t create many chances and and shut down Classical’s offense. Freshman goalie Maggie Sperry kept a shut-out through the first half as the teams entered half-time tied at 0-0. 

Sarina Sullivan, another Freshman goalkeeper was subbed in for the second half. 

Lynn Classical came into the second half rolling as they controlled most of the possession throughout the second half.

Gloucester created more chances and played some strong defense during the entire game to shut out Classical. 

The final result was 0-0 as the Fisherman pulled off a successful tie to earn a point.

“This season has really changed my perspective on sports. Sometimes it’s not about winning and losing. We had a slow start to our season, but we didn’t let that get our spirits down,” said Captain Willow Phoenix. “We have worked hard at practices and continued to grow as a team.  Finally winning felt amazing, and we are all hoping to use that momentum to lead us into the rest of the season.” 

The team looks to keep this form and improve as they host Lynn English on Friday at 4:00.