Mount Greylock Girls Rally Past Pittsfield

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- The Mount Greylock girls soccer team Thursday scored three goals in a span of about 10 minutes to erase a one-goal deficit en route to a 3-1 win over Pittsfield in the teams’ season-opener.

 

Delaney Babcock scored out of a scramble on a penalty corner in the 55th minute to snap a 1-1 tie, and Isabella Nicastro made some big saves down the stretch to preserve the lead.

 

Mount Greylock coach Tom Ostheimer said he knew his team had a comeback in it after Pittsfield’s Britney Perkett scored an unassisted goal with about a minute left in the first half to break a scoreless tie.

 

“For the most part, I thought we got the better of play even in the first half,” he said. “They got a redirect goal that kind of changed direction. Our goalie was all set, but it got by her. I felt pretty confident even down 1-0 at half-time.

 

“For about 10 minutes in the second half, we were really pressing, and they were on their heels. … We broke the ice with a PK and didn’t let up.”

 

It started about 10 minutes after half-time when the Mounties were awarded a penalty kick off a takedown on a breakaway chance. Karen McComish converted the chance with a shot low and to the right of a diving Hayley Tobin to tie the game.

 

Moments later, the Mounties converted a corner kick to take the lead.

 

“Charlotte Rauscher has been doing a great job on the corners, and Delaney Babcock, who is a freshman this year, got the goal,” Ostheimer said.

 

Five minutes later, Rauscher converted a nifty assist from Madi Ross to give the Mounties an insurance goal.

 

But there were some scary moments down the stretch, particularly as the fog began to roll in from the south end of the field, obscuring Mount Greylock’s goal -- and, more to the point for the Mounties, making it difficult for Nicastro to see out.

 

“The corner was completely blocked in,” Ostheimer said. “I couldn’t even see players. I think it was most challenging for the goalie. … Last year, she split time with Rachel Voller, and this year she’s our starting goalie, and she did a great job.”

 

The fog was replaced with rain and, in the distance, lightning, forcing the referees to suspend play in the 72nd minute. After waiting out the storm and consulting with both coaches, the referees ended the game early.

 

The Mounties (1-0) host Lenox on Saturday, while Pittsfield hosts Wachusett.”