WALPOLE — Teams rarely go though an entire state tournament run without having to play from behind. So even though top seed Masconomet hadn’t conceded a goal in over a month, they’d spent a lot of time preparing to eventually face that test.
Monday night, the Chieftains aced it.
Sophomore Maggie Blosser’s natural hat trick in the Division 2 state semifinals sent Masconomet by Mansfield, 3-1, at Walpole’s Turco Field. The Chieftains’ 22nd victory of the season was also their first come-from-behind win all fall … and it sent them to Saturday’s state championship game for the first time in 32 years.
“When we know there’s a lot of time left, we don’t get panicked,” Blosser said of her team’s attitude after trailing 1-0 in the first half. “We felt like we’d be fine … and once we got that first goal, they kind of tend to keep coming.”
Masconomet (22-0-1) will face the winner of Tuesday’s semifinal between No. 2 Duxbury (19-1-1) and No. 3 Westborough (15-3-1). The state final is scheduled for Saturday morning at Worcester State University (10 a.m.).
“One more,” said Chieftain head coach Alison Lecesse, whose team hasn’t lost a regular season game since 2021 and is now in the state title game for the first time since 1992 (with the school’s only title coming in 1989). “The last three years, we’ve gone one step further in the tournament than the year before, and we’re finally in the final.
“We know it’s going to be a huge test but we also know if we play our game, we can play with anybody.”
Tied 1-1 at halftime with a battle tested No. 4 seed from Mansfield (15-3-3), Masconomet played one of its best halves of the season and dominated possession. After a few close calls, it took Blosser only six minutes to break the tie and pot the game-winner.
Senior captain Riley Bovardi sent a long pass from midfield towards Blosser, who won it in the air and played it down to her feet. After taking a step or two towards goal, she blasted it home to put the Chieftains ahead for good.
“Riley’s made that pass so many times and she’s so consistent with it that I pretty much know exactly where to go,” said Blosser.
Junior Cate Shaffer assisted on both of Blosser’s other two goals. The third one came with 23 minutes left and saw Blosser steal the ball around midfield and play it ahead for Shaffer. A one-touch pass set up a textbook give-and-go, and Blosser was off to the races to finish her second hat trick in four state tournament games.
“Momentum is so big for our team and it felt like once we got going, we didn’t slow down,” said Shaffer.
After being outshot 4-3 in the first half, Masconomet had a 9-2 edge over the Hornets over the final 40 minutes. Besides winning most of the 50/50 balls, Masco got a nice jolt off the bench from sophomore Ava Wexler and great play in the corner from Violet Malinowski.
Senor captain Nicole Schneider was also very aggressive playing up the near wing, continually activating for attacking runs and feeding teammates on both crosses and forward passes.
“Nicole’s had such a fantastic season and she finally got First Team Eastern Mass. all-star this year. It’s been due for a few years, but she’s an outside back and it’s so hard to get the recognition without a lot of stats. When she plays out wide, she drives us,” Lecesse said. “Her speed, her demeanor on the ball and her tenacity to get back are all incredible.”
Mansfield’s initial goal came at the 18-minute mark of the first half off a long free kick. Olivia Dunham struck the ball from 55 yards away and Maddie Fernandes had perfect positioning in front of the net to direct it in for a 1-0 advantage.
It was the first goal Masconomet had allowed in 10 games and may have been the first time all season they’d conceded the first goal of a game. But the Chieftains weren’t about to play shell-shocked soccer.
“I had faith in them. Any time you face a team you don’t know, there’s some mystique about that and it takes a bit to settle in,” said Lecesse. “Once we got settled, we got out feet under us and started working.”
Sophomore keeper Evy Mills made the best of her six saves with 14 minutes left in the first half by leaping to the top crossbar and punching the ball free. Masco defended the ensuing corner kick and, generally speaking, Mansfield had a hard time penetrating the layers of the Chieftain defense of Teagan Skulley, Sadie Morris, Sophie Nelson and Lily Blosser.
Then with four minutes to go until halftime, Shaffer sent a sideways pass to Blosser in the box. From that close, the budding scoring star seldom misses and just like that, it was 1-1 at halftime.
“These kids just know how to play with the ball at their feet. They’re so quick on the ball and the passing is lights out,” said Lecesse.
“What can you say about Maggie? She has fantastic touch on the ball.”
Mills also saved a similar long free kick Mansfield earned just before halftime and cut down a long counter run in the early part of the second half. It was just the third time all season the Hornets, who’d won seven in a row coming in, allowed more than two goals.