Coe-Brown girls soccer posted its first losing record in four years this season. The Bears have a new head coach, Paul Webster, and it has taken time to adjust to a new style. On top of that, they’ve had numerous injuries to starters.
They also just reached the Division II quarterfinals for the fourth consecutive year.
No. 11 Coe-Brown upset No. 6 Merrimack Valley, 1-0, on Wednesday afternoon in a D-II tournament opener. The result reversed the Pride’s defeat of the Bears by the same score from Sept. 21.
Bears senior forward Jaelyn Demers produced the lone goal with a little luck and smart positioning.
A high, looping cross from senior winger Ellie Escabi just grazed the outstretched hands of Merrimack Valley goalie Genevieve Blanchette and fell to the lunging Demers. The striker tapped it in with less than four minutes left in the half, and that’s when the Bears (7-9-1) began to shut down defensively.
“It just felt surreal; I didn’t even know how to react,” Demers recalled of the moment. “I was just so happy because I think we had been struggling to get shots off.”
Merrimack Valley (7-6-4) generated multiple chances early and earned six corner kicks in the first half. They provided the Pride’s only steady set-piece opportunities, but MV failed to capitalize on second bounces and far-post runs to get clean looks.
The Pride followed a similar pattern in both halves. They would start possessing well and find a way to attack effectively. But after both squads settled deeper into the half, Merrimack Valley would lose control.
The Pride found early success with long balls from the back line; Coe-Brown’s midfielders adjusted. The Bears’ Mackenzie Phillips, Ainsley Hunter and Avery Barthel figured out that they were able to cut those chances off and win second balls, cutting off the MV attack.
The overloaded midfield and tough defense out wide by Coe-Brown completely stifled Merrimack Valley, but neither team had many chances going either way.
Senior Lila Gray energized the Pride’s attack with her relentless work rate but was often outnumbered after regaining the ball. Seniors Hadley Raine, Sophie Porter and Gabi Jones all had attempts on target, but none broke through CBNA freshman goalie Olivia Boswell.
Pride head coach Danielle Wiley praised MV’s phenomenal work ethic and effort to secure a winning record. She thought the seniors left a gift of being worthy role models for those coming up.
This defeat was the second consecutive upset loss in the preliminary round for the Pride. It left them distraught on the sidelines. Unrealized potential slipped through their fingers again.
“We didn’t have 11 girls on the field at the same time who had the motor they needed to have,” Wiley said, still emotional. “We got lax, and it turned into a goal that we couldn’t come back from.”
The Bears’ injuries piled up throughout the season, but Webster commended his team for its resilience and adaptability to stick out the win.
He said he tried to implement tactics that encourage players to be decision-makers, not robots. The Bears displayed that mentality by constantly looking to retain possession down the stretch.
Coe-Brown defensive midfielder Avery Barthel said her teammates have also brought the intensity up in preparation for playoffs. Despite tactical changes and injury rotations, the Bears are all ready to continue pushing for wins.
Going into a Saturday quarterfinal at No. 3 Milford (11-1-4) will be their biggest challenge yet. The Bears kept it close until the end in the regular-season encounter, falling 3-1 after a late goal by Milford.
“When we want it, we can do it,” Barthel said.