Published: 11/16/2021 9:51:55 PM
LEOMINSTER – Three lethal set pieces in the first 21 minutes of Tuesday’s Division 3 state semifinal ended the Belchertown girls soccer season.
The top-seeded Clippers capitalized on two free kicks and a corner early to down No. 5 Belchertown 3-0 at Doyle Field. Norwell, which won the 2018 state championship over South Hadley, will face No. 3 Dedham on Saturday for the title. The Marauders defeated No. 2 Foxborough 3-0 in the other semifinal.
The Orioles were seeking their first state final appearance since 2012. They haven’t won a state championship since 2003.
“The game was called tighter than we’re used to on a normal basis,” Belchertown coach Kyle Thibeault said. “We’re used to the physicality. I didn’t necessarily think both [free kicks] were fouls.”
Norwell began the evening after earning a free kick in the fourth minute from 35 yards out left of the goal. Giulianna Gianino sized it up then whipped a low blast around the Belchertown wall. Orioles keeper Jillian DeBarge lunged to her right and got her fingers to it but couldn’t keep the shot out.
The Clippers got another free kick 16 minutes later from roughly the same spot. DeBarge kept out Gianino’s shot in a similar area, popping the ball skyward with two hands. Norwell’s Grace Oliver challenged for the ball in the air, and sent it to her right. Allison Jenkins was waiting to nod it in for a 2-0 lead in the 20th minute.
“They’re phenomenal hits, and there’s nothing you can do about it,” Thibeault said. “That changed our dynamic a little bit.”
They earned a corner less than a minute later. Anna Kirchner fired it on a sharp angle through the box and into the net to make it 3-0 Norwell with 19 minutes to halftime, forcing a Belchertown timeout.
Belchertown, which lost for the first time all season and hadn’t been shut out since Oct. 1 against Minnechaug, struggled to generate chances. Freshman Mia Corish took the team’s best chance of the first half in the 16th minute. A long ball bounced off her defender’s shoulder, and she struck it wide off the volley.
“They’re really organized. They were constantly communicating with each other and had good depth between their center backs,” Belchertown senior Avery Klingensmith said. “Our attack wasn’t as good as it could have been, and they just played really well defensively.”
The Orioles did put the ball in the net in the 70th minute. Belchertown junior Ashley Cunningham charged a goal kick attempt and deflected it back into the Norwell net. She raised her arms in celebration, but the goal was waived off for encroachment.
DeBarge, the freshman keeper, saved five shots in the first half, and senior Mabelle Bessette stopped six in the second. Bessette usually starts the first half while DeBarge takes the second, but Thibeault wanted to throw a different look at Norwell. Bessette told DeBarge that she would be starting before the game.
Bessette and Klingensmith are two of eight Belchertown seniors that played their final game for the Orioles.
“It’s been really fun over the years, especially having played with some of these people for a really long time,” Klingensmith said. “I’m really proud of everything the team accomplished.”
Belchertown won a Western Massachusetts title and reached a state semifinal for the first time since 2012. The Orioles will bring back a large contingent of players aiming for another run next season.
“We have a lot of talent in our team that is younger, and this experience will hopefully help them grow as we go. I'm sure will be back here at some point with this group,” Thibeault said. “They should hold their heads up high. We lost to a quality team, and they battled. If we’re going to lose to a quality team and we gave it our all, this is the game it is.”
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