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The Winchester High girls soccer team (14-2-2) finished up the regular season over the past couple of weeks with an unbeaten record of six wins and one tie, and it couldn’t have come at better time with the Division 1 state tournament beginning next week.
The playoff pairings are scheduled to be released by the MIAA (Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association) on Saturday, Nov. 1.
As of the Oct. 28 power rankings, the Red & Black are seeded seventh, only Needham (14-2-1), Wellesley (11-2-4), Bishop Feehan (14-0-1), Natick (11-3-3), Franklin (11-4-2) and Braintree (7-4-6) are ahead of them in a division made up of 49 teams statewide.
In those seven games, the Winchester girls defeated Watertown (7-0, Oct. 8), Burlington (2-1, Oct. 15), Arlington (3-0, Oct. 17), Woburn (2-0, Oct. 21), Reading (3-0, Oct. 23) and Concord-Carlisle (4-0, Oct. 25), before battling Belmont to a scoreless tie in the regular season finale on Oct. 27.
Coach Michelle Ross’ team scored an astounding 52 goals in just 18 games, while giving up only 12 that helped them secure the Middlesex League title for the fourth consecutive year, not bad for a group of girls who had to ignore the noise over roster decisions before the season started in order to put together long winning streaks that catapulted them to the top of arguably the most competitive league in the state. The league features four of its six teams in the Division 1 Top 20 to date.
In that 4-0 victory over Concord-Carlisle, the Winchester freshmen accounted for all of the goals. Charlotte Bjercke led the way with two scores. Ashey Mitchell and Stella Garcia each tallied once. Mitchell also assisted on two of the scores. Senior captain Juliet Semmes and junior Sophie Shapiro were credited with assists, as well.
“We have been showcasing the depth on this roster, as well as the program’s promising future all season long,” said Ross. “That win against Concord-Carlisle was one of our most commanding defensive efforts of the season, as we did not allow a single shot on goal against one of the state’s most tactical and disciplined clubs.”
Beyond the wins, the Red & Black also earned one of the sport’s highest honors – the United Soccer Coaches Team Pinnacle Award – for the second straight year. This prestigious award recognizes excellence in academics, ethics and on-field success as benchmarks, when determining which team measures up to its standards.
“For us, this award means more than any single win or individual accomplishment,” said Ross. “This award is at its core a team honor, and one that beautifully parallels our team-first mentality. It also represents the collective spirit that defines our program with the belief that success is built not on individual accolades, but on shared effort, mutual trust and the willingness of every player to put the team above herself. Each player is essential to our success.”
Ross went on to say: “That collective mindset has created a family-like atmosphere, where everyone feels valued. Remarkably, 15 of the team’s 21 players have recorded multiple goals or assists this season, underscoring the depth, unselfish play and commitment they all have for each other.”
As the postseason approaches, the Red & Black look poised and unified. It’s a team built on trust, talent and a shared belief in something bigger than themselves.
Joe McConnell is a longtime, award-winning sports editor for numerous North Shore publications. He began covering Winchester sports for the News last November.
