WESTBOROUGH – The Westborough High School girls soccer team’s impressive season and MIAA Division 2 tournament run came to an end in a 5-2 loss to Duxbury in the semifinal game on Nov. 19.
Despite the loss, the team’s season was defined by a culture of determination and support that helped the Rangers find their winning formula.
After Duxbury took an early 2-0 lead, Westborough cut their deficit down to one thanks to a corner kick headed in by senior captain Regan Sullivan with four minutes remaining in the first half.
“I’m proud of the girls,” said Westborough Head Coach Scott Moroney. “They fought for every second of this game. We weren’t intimidated at all, but we had tremendous respect for Duxbury.”
Westborough conceded twice more before a strike by Lauren Klein netted the Rangers final goal of the match.
According to Moroney, the team’s success this season is due in no small part to the leadership and culture that has been built over the past 12 months by senior captains Molly Courchesne, Addi Potenti, and Sullivan.
“They really shaped what this was going to become. In the offseason they do all the work to build culture, and that culture really turns into the way that we play the game,” Moroney said. “And that’s really a core element of the school itself. Let’s look out for everybody around us, let’s respect everybody around us, and let’s play for each other.”
Even after their loss, Moroney called on Potenti to describe how she viewed leading her team throughout the season.
“Showing your teammates that you’re going to support each other at pasta parties, at practice, at games, I think it all starts off the field,” Potenti said. “So, when we have these great relationships off the field, we can translate them really well and work really well together on the field.”
The state championship game between Duxbury and Masconomet Regional will be held on Nov. 23.
