RallyNorth.net

Georgetown girls fall to Millis

Tuesday, November, 17 By John Shimer

QUINCY — The thrill is gone.
Despite the Georgetown girls soccer team’s 1-0 loss to Millis in the Division 3 state semifinal last evening at Quincy’s Veterans Memorial Stadium, there is reason for optimism.

With 16 returning players, this may not be the only ride these Royals make.
In what was a match between two very even teams, it seemed as though one lucky bounce would be the difference in the game, as both teams struggled offensively. Seventy minutes into the game, Millis got the break.

Off a long throw that deflected fortuitously to the Mohawks’ Jillian Zitoli, the freshman forward hit a shot that ricochetted into the middle of the box directly to Maddie Brosler, who hit the ball one time off the far left post for the game’s only goal.

For the first time in the state tournament, Georgetown coach Colleen Gibbs left her freshman goalie Jamie Block in the net in the second half, which proved to be a wise decision as far as the defense was concerned. Block made two difficult saves, the first on a header off another long throw-in and the second on a through ball from Molly Breen to Ashley Page.

But with a short substitution rotation off the bench, Georgetown’s offensive legs seemed to wear down late in the game. After Millis scored, Gibbs called timeout and pulled Block from net to send her up the field. Though the freshman really did not have much of an impact, the Royals nearly scored with 3:30 seconds to go.

Earning a free kick, Taylor Nelson sent a beautiful ball to the far right side of the 6-yard box for Casey Decareau, who got to the ball first for the header, but Millis keeper Amanda White made the save of the game to preserve the shutout.

“I was hoping it was going to be another one like she did at the Manning Bowl,” said Gibbs of Decareau’s last-minute header, which was eerily reminiscent of the goal the senior captain scored against Matignon in the North semifinal game. “But she can’t make them all, and I think they were marking her pretty heavily.”

Georgetown did not pressure the net again.

“Their whole team was just athletes like track stars,” said Decareau of the difficulty Georgetown had breaking through. “They could just sprint. It didn’t even mater, it seemed like they were all track stars and we were just soccer players.”

Georgetown’s other captain Emma Cannon said Millis’ sweeper Amanda Vecchi finally caught up with the Royals.

“I actually think that playing on the turf is difficult, and we like to settle more to play a slower pace,” said Cannon, who again credited the defense with an outstanding performance. “I don’t think we had the experience on the turf, and some of our through balls seemed to get too far away.

“They had an excellent sweeper who was all over the place and booted the ball out,” Cannon added. “She got it out, and it was really hard to send in those through-balls because she was so deep.”

Walking off the field with their heads held high, after a historic season for Georgetown soccer, both Cannon and Decareau were able to smile knowing they had led their team farther than any other in Royal history.

“It’s really cool, it’s awesome, it’s a special thing,” said Cannon of the accomplishment. “It’s nice to be a part of the first Georgetown team to go this far.”

“I’m so happy just to be a captain with Emma and to lead us all this way,” Decareau said. “We made history. We’re the only ones to do it. I’m so happy and so glad to do it.

And in defeat, Gibbs was satisfied with the way her girls went out, with class and charisma.

“They played a great game, they were evenly matched, and we had our opportunities. But unfortunately we just didn’t capitalize on them,” said Gibbs, whose team hit the crossbar and had three other decent shots testing the Millis net in the first half. “(Georgetown) had a great season, but this is a young team and I think there are only great things to come.”