As many coaches around the state learned this week, the opening round of the postseason can always be a bit of a mixed bag. Teams that dominated during the regular season can sometimes fall flat, and underdogs that snuck in as a double-digit seeds will often completely shake up a bracket by taking down a giant.
“For a first-round game, those can always be a little nervy. You’re playing a team that’s a lower-seeded team so they really have nothing to lose,” Concord girls’ soccer coach Phil Tuttle said. “They’re coming in giving it all that they have knowing that if we don’t come out on top, it’s the end of our season.”
Concord wasn’t ready to go home yet.
The Tide scored the all-important first goal 20 minutes into the contest, added another tally in the second half and let its defense do the rest as No. 5 Concord blanked No. 12 Manchester Memorial, 2-0, on Thursday during the first round of the Division I girls’ soccer tournament at Memorial Field in Concord.
“As long as it’s 0-0, it doesn’t really matter what seed you are, especially in these playoff games where teams are battling and girls are working hard on both sides of the ball. I think for us to come out and score about 20 minutes into the game helped settle the team and get things going,” Tuttle said. “We played Memorial earlier in the season right here in Concord so we had a pretty good idea of who we were playing, what that was going to be like and some of the obstacles that we would face. But I think the girls went out there today and just completed a solid 80 minutes.”
The win sends Concord into Sunday’s quarterfinal where it will visit No. 4 Bedford at 2 p.m.
Senior midfielder Ashley Plante was the driving force behind both Concord goals. In the first half, she served up a beautiful pass to Allison Silverstein, who collected the ball, dribbled toward the top of the 18-yard box and sailed a shot over the keeper’s head for the 1-0 lead.
Plante continued to make plays in the second half when she took the ball down the left side of the field and sent a cross over to Mary Martinson for the two-goal advantage. Martinson was able to settle the ball in the box and drive her shot into the far side of the net.
“Ashley has done a really nice job for us,” Tuttle said. “I think she’s a really tremendous player in terms of setting others up to score goals. She’s scored a number of goals in her own right, but really she’s incredible in terms of breaking away from defenders and just creating enough of a gap to either serve a cross in or find a good pass across the goal.”
The early lead allowed Concord to sit back and not force the issue with aggressive play – a style that would play right into the hands of the counter-attacking Crusaders.
Instead, the Tide’s back line of Jennifer Graham, Lillian Rienstra, Sydney Plante and Chloe Morgan, along with keeper Autumn Nudd and defensive midfielder Katherine Potter, were able to simplify their approach and limit any real chances for Memorial.
“Really the game plan for our back line, and our keeper as well, was just playing as simple as possible,” Tuttle said. “If they had to play it out, that was fine, we can adjust, face up and defend that way, but it was just sort of play simple and don’t overcomplicate the game and I think they did an amazing job.”
Bedford will likely offer a tougher test for Concord, but the Tide is ready for that challenge, especially after losing to the Bulldogs in last year’s quarterfinals.
“A lot of these girls are excited to go to Bedford to be honest. A lot of these girls were a part of that team last year and are kind of looking for a little bit of payback for sure,” Tuttle said. “We have a really good idea of what we’re facing and going up against and a lot of these girls have played against each other for a long time and are friends off the field. So it always creates an interesting matchup with two high-quality teams going at each other.”
No. 8 John Stark 2,
No. 9 ConVal 1
Key players: John Stark – Bella Roy (assist), Arden Ulmer (2G)
Highlights: Roy sent in a perfect corner to Ulmer to tie the game at 1-all before Ulmer scored again in the second half, taking advantage of a penalty by ConVal in the 18-yard box for the game-winning goal to help the Generals advance to Sunday’s quarterfinal round.
Coach’s quote: “This as always was a team victory as the girls had to lock down a really talented team while mounting their own offense and they implemented every play and strategy we had practiced today. I think assistant coach Bill Nardino has brought something new to John Stark. He is adding a level of complexity to the girls game and they have taken to ideas with a passion.” – Stark’s Chris Pike
Records: John Stark 10-6-1; Con Val 8-8-1
No. 7 Souhegan 0,
No. 10 Merrimack Valley 0 (Souhegan wins, 3-1, on PKs)
Key players: Merrimack Valley – Hayley Kenney (midfield), Hannah Costello (midfield), Alyssa Woodman (forward), Kaylee Magoon (forward), Mackenzie McDonald (goalie), Elizabeth Philbrook (defense), Katelin Locke (defense), Hailey Meattey (defense), Miah Boucher (defense)
Highlights: After a scoreless battle, Souhegan won beat the Pride on penalty kicks, 3-1, to advance to the quarterfinals.
Coach’s quote: “The girls left everything out on the field today. We were unlucky to not come away with the victory. We attacked and attacked while generating multiple chances and hitting the post twice and crossbar another two times. But at the end of the day, you have to score to win the game. Very proud of the effort and the senior leadership of our five seniors. They will all be missed greatly.” – MV’s Nick D’Agostino
Records: Souhegan 9-6-2; Merrimack Valley 8-7-2