Holliston: 11-11 5 p.m.

Please note that our quarterfinal game against Holliston is at 5:00 p.m. (in Holliston), not 1:00 p.m. as reported by some local papers.

11-9-09: Norton 2; Bourne 0

You should be proud. Today you shut-out an undefeated and 1st seeded team to move us to the quarterfinals. Once again, you did it as a team and were relentless to the end. Keep the momentum going and it will be difficult for anyone to stop us.

The Sun Chronicle
GIRLS SOCCER: Upsets for Norton, D-R
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 2:17 AM EST

Relying upon the strength of their intensive Tri-Valley League schedule, the Norton High girls' soccer team once again proved to be a giant-killer in the MIAA Division 2-South Sectional Tournament Monday.

On the road for the second time in three days, the 17th-seeded Lancers stunned top-seeded and previously-unbeaten Bourne, 2-0, in a first-round match.

Behind second-half goals within six minutes of each other by Nicolette Schuko and Kristin MacGray, the Lancers surprised the South Coast Conference champion Canalmen and advanced to the quarterfinal round of postseason play, visiting No. 8 seeded and fellow TVL member Holliston Wednesday afternoon at 1.

"We wanted to play like we had nothing to lose," said Norton coach Todd Kefor, whose Lancers followed the trend of good teams from good leagues advancing in the postseason. "They were a bit of a mystery to us, they were an imposing team."

But to the Lancers' credit, they blanked Bourne through the first half of play and stopper back Julie Aussubel earned the "man of the match" honors for her shadowing of the Canalmen's leading scorer. "Our defense didn't give up much space," added Kefor, Lancer goalie Audrey Maia totaling seven saves in preserving the shutout. Norton (7-5-7) now meets a Holliston side, to whom it has lost by 1-0 and 3-1 margins.

The Lancers weren't intimidated by Bourne, especially after matching shoves and pushes, winning their fair share of 50-50 balls through the initial 20 minutes. "We felt each other out, there were chances on both sides," added Kefor. "They were big and physical," but by being engaged in a scoreless stalemate by halftime, Norton went hell-bent in the second half.

Schuko challenged the Bourne goalkeeper for space and possession of the ball on a bouncing ball, nudging the ball into the net for the match-winner in the eighth minute. Six minutes later, MacGray got a head on a Kate Ledbetter corner kick for the second Lancer tally.

Norton created 15 shots on goal, 10 during the second half. Alltold, the Lancers have scored six goals and allowed just one in the postseason. "We kind of felt all along through the season, that if we can make it (the tournament) out of our league schedule, the strength of the league would help us," added Kefor.


Girls soccer: Bourne, Falmouth fall
By Cape Cod Times

November 10, 2009

BOURNE – Losing in the state tournament is never easy. But it's particularly frustrating when it comes in the opening round following an undefeated season.

That's what happened to the Bourne girls soccer team yesterday. The top-seeded Canalmen suffered a 2-0 defeat to No. 17 Norton in Division 2 South first-round play, ending the season on a sour note.

All the brackets are here.
“It was a tremendous season. I couldn't ask for more,” Bourne coach Yvonna Rowinski said. “We won the (South Coast Conference) championship. We've never done that before. The girls worked hard. They deserve everything they've gotten.

“But I'm upset, because it's nice to win. We hadn't lost all season until today, so it kind of stinks.”

The Canalmen finish 17-l-1 while the Lancers (8-5-7) move on to face No. 8 Holliston in tomorrow's quarterfinals.

After a scoreless first half, Norton broke through 3:12 into the second half when Nicolette Schuko's high, soft floater eluded goalie Katelyn Hourihan and found the back of the net.

“She did the right thing to come out and get it, but then she lost track of the ball,” Rowinski said. “I think that girl just kicked it with a wish and it went in.”

Once they had the lead, the Lancers went into full defensive mode, leaving only two attackers up front and packing eight into the box. Still, the Canalmen had their chances.

“It was kick-and-run. There was no soccer today. It was kind of ugly, ” Rowinski said. “But we definitely battled. That second goal pretty much deflated us.”

The Lancers padded the lead at 28:56, scoring off a corner. Kristen MacGray headed in a feed from Kate Ledbetter to finish a pretty play and seal the Canalmen's fate.

Bourne's Ryann Chase, the leading scorer in the SCC this season, went out with an ankle injury with 14 minutes left. She returned a few minutes later, but her absence was felt.

“I'm proud of these girls,” Rowinski said. “We didn't win. But there's always next year.”

Boys boot West Bridgewater, girls booted by Norton
The Bourne Courier
Tue Nov 10, 2009, 01:23 PM EST

BOURNE -
The soccer team that wasn’t supposed to have a chance is in the semifinals and the No. 1 seed isn’t, proving almost anything can happen in sports.
Bourne’s No. 11 seeded boys soccer team (9-3-5) trounced No. 6 West Bridgewater 6-0 Sunday and earned a shot at No. 3 Westport (14-2-2). The teams will play at Westport at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Westport blanked No. 14 Cohasset 3-0.
Dan Moscaritolo had two goals while Luke Weatherby, Jeff Small, Justin Desharnais and Kyle Johnson each had one as the Canalmen built a 4-0 halftime lead and coasted past West Bridgewater.
But the top-seeded and previously unbeaten girls soccer team suffered a 2-0 shocking setback to No. 17 Norton in a first-round game. The Lady Canalmen finished 17-1-1.