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On the 40th anniversary of the Massachusetts Tournament of Champions (MTOC) playoffs, the Winchester Youth Soccer Grade 7-8 girls team, named the Avalanche, won the Division 1 state championship at Lancaster’s Progin Park.
The tournament was a three-day event that ran from June 27-29. It traditionally marks the end of the spring youth soccer season on all levels for both boys and girls teams.
The Avalanche got to Lancaster last weekend after coming out on top in the BAYS League playoffs (Boston Area Youth Soccer), arguably the most competitive conference in the state.
“Winning the MTOC was a goal that this team set out to accomplish way back in the third grade,” said Coach Mike Houllahan, “but first, we had to win a six-team playoff in our league, and we did so after earning a bye and winning two straight games that culminated with a 1-0 triumph over Belmont (on June 23 in Medfield). We were now halfway home to our goal.”
The Winchester girls were then able to maintain that momentum to win five straight MTOC Division 1 games over three days to secure the ultimate prize. They first went 3-0 in group play to begin the tournament, starting off with a 7-0 statement win over undefeated Agawam, the Roots Soccer League champion. That league is made up of teams in the western part of the state.
Striker Gracie Infurna paced the attack with three goals, while midfielders Daisy Roeder and Alex Shevland played with grit and determination to help their teammates shutout their Agawam foes, according to Houllahan.
The Avalanche then escaped past Bridgewater, the SSSL (South Shore Soccer League) champs, 3-2, before blanking Melrose, 2-0. Emma Wignell netted the clincher in the third game, with Vivian Shanley getting that all-important helper on the insurance tally after turning in a highlight reel play.
“We dominated Melrose in large part to the stellar goalkeeping of Shaylen McGrath in the first half to go along with the energy that she then brought to an undermanned and tired team with her play up top in the second half,” said Houllahan.
It was then onto the semifinals, where the Avalanche faced Norton in what turned out to be its toughest competition of the tournament, “but we ended up playing our best game of the tournament, highlighted by our dominance in the middle,” said Houllahan.
The coach specifically singled out center-midfielder Lila Czerepak, because she was first to every ball and won every battle in the middle against Norton. He also mentioned that attacking center-back Izzie Waterbury stopped every Norton challenge, continuing what she had been doing so well all season long.
Their efforts allowed newly minted wing backs Solana Murphy, who is still waiting for someone to get by her, and Audrey Houllahan to start virtually every rush on offense. Houllahan specifically finished the last rush of the game off by taking a sweet feed from Alex Shevland, before blasting a shot that almost went through the back of the net to account for the third and final goal of the game.
They went on to beat Norton, 3-0.
It was then on to the championship game against Wilmington, where they faced an incredible goalkeeper, who made over 12 saves to keep things close on the scoreboard. But in the end, Winchester was able to persevere, 1-0.
The Avalanche relied once again on its solid defense, led by goalie Ayla Capone. She played the first half in goal, before bringing much needed energy and hustle to the team as a position player in the second half.
The game was scoreless until the Avalanche finally broke through on a Charlotte Bjerke header off a corner kick by attacking center-midfielder Elise Alvares, who was brilliant throughout the tournament, according to Houllahan. Alvares was able to place a perfect kick to Bjerke, who put both star striker Ashley Mitchell and the ball into the net together. There was just a question on who scored the goal. Mitchell already had enough goals, four to be exact, throughout the weekend tournament at striker, so it was decided to let Bjerke, the star center-back, share in the championship glory.
“It was a true team effort,” said Houllahan.
Josie Monk, Emma O’Riordan, Carolyn Collins, Rynn Fitzpatrick-Canfield and Stella Garcia couldn’t play in the state tournament, but they still contributed to the championship season by helping their teammates succeed in the BAYS League regular season and playoffs.
Houllahan also had help throughout this championship effort from the team’s other coaches Pete Czerepak and Mark Waterbury.
