The Division II girls soccer semifinals are all set. Pembroke and Bow both won over the weekend to book their spots in the final four on Tuesday.
Pembroke 4, John Stark 1
John Stark senior Madison Lamothe scored early but Pembroke took over from there, scoring four straight goals to win at home and go back to the D-II semifinals for the first time since 2023.
The win itself showed the Pembroke’s defensive improvement over the earlier 4-3 match against No. 5 Stark (8-5-4) and showed off the Spartans’ firepower headed into semis.
PA senior Paige Bemis scored first, with an assist from freshman Tenley Alberico, to equalize in the first half. Still tied going into the last 40 minutes, freshman Kendal Lesmerises scored the go-ahead goal early in the second half.
Alberico got her own goal with a strong shot into the low corner from the top of the box with 12 minutes left. Her older sister, senior Ava Alberico, converted the fourth from a penalty kick after a hand ball three minutes later. She shot into the bottom left corner and sealed the win.
Pembroke coach Jess Kaufman-Desrochers said the Spartans focused on the film from the last game and executed accordingly. The sharpness displayed in the quarterfinals is what it will take to keep moving on in the postseason.
“Tightening up in our midfield a bit more. Reducing we talk a lot about: reducing turnovers when it’s time to just keep hold of the ball,” she said.
The matchup in semifinals is looking favorable for Pembroke, too. The Spartans (12-3-2) were the only team to beat No. 1 Hollis-Brookline (15-1-1) this season, with a 3-2 win in early September.
Two months on, they’ll have to do it again to return to the championship match.
“I feel like we can definitely beat them again; we just need to keep our heads high and stay connected. I have faith, 100%,” senior captain Lily Royer said.
The Pembroke-Hollis semifinal is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. at Bill Ball Stadium in Exeter on Tuesday.
Bow 1, Kennett 0 (OT)
No. 2 Bow faced one of its toughest challenges offensively and mentally in No. 7 Kennett on Saturday. Bow didn’t allow a shot on target but also couldn’t find the back of the net through 94 minutes of play.
Everything looked to be moving well for the Falcons. They connected well in the back and midfield, rotated the ball effectively and got it forward on the wings to find players across the middle of the box. Every chance was saved, blocked or cleared. The Falcons had to keep their heads even as the desperation to score before going to penalties kicked in.
Finally, sophomore Celia Roberge appeared in the box to knock a rebound in and win with a game-winning goal in the second overtime period.
“It was a good cross by Marissa (Reyes) and Reanne (Hubbard) headed it right to my feet and I just tapped it in,” Roberge said. “It felt amazing. It felt like the best goal I’ve ever scored.”
Sophomore Celia Roberge (16) scored through a sea of Kennett Eagles in double overtime to win in the quarterfinals, 1-0. Credit: CHIP GRIFFIN / Photos by Chip 
Celia Roberge’s goal instantly won the game for Bow, and her teammates rushed her in celebration after it hit the net. Credit: CHIP GRIFFIN / Photos by Chip
Staying connected and playing Bow-style soccer were the keys to keeping calm in the win, Roberge added. If the Falcons can control the pace of a game and possession, they have a shot at winning.
The win sent the Falcons (13-1-3) to their 17th consecutive semifinal; Bow is trying to defend its Division II title. This game was one of the dicier quarterfinals encounters throughout that streak.
Coach Jay Vogt expects No. 3 Milford (12-1-4) to be more offensive and present a different challenge stylistically. It’s a bigger game at a neutral site, but Bow just needs to play its game, he said.
The Bow-Milford semifinal is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Bill Ball Stadium in Exeter on Tuesday.