Mount Greylock Girls Tie Wahconah, Clinch Western Mass Berth

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - The Mount Greylock girls soccer team Monday clinched a Western Massachusetts tournament bid with come-from-behind, 3-3 draw against Wahconah.

 

It’s an achievement qualifying for the Western Mass tournament, but it’s an even bigger achievement doing so in the way Mount Greylock (7-5-3) did Monday.

 

Although it ended in a draw, both of these teams are feeling completely opposite on the emotional spectrum when the final whistle sounded.

 

Wahconah (9-3-2) started the day dominating on all aspects of the field. It was able to control possession throughout the whole first half and dictate play, switching fields whenever they wanted to. The biggest advantage Wahconah came through corner kicks. It took them 10 minutes to find themselves on the score sheet with a corner kick from Chloe Accardi to Jilly Cote.

 

The visitors did not let up after the first goal, continuing to exploit Mount Greylock up the wings with pace and quick one two passes. Once again, Wahconah struck through a corner kick with Cote giving the assist to Morgan Marauszwski to give them a 2-0 lead. Allison Washburn added  a third unassisted to finish off a near perfect first half from Wahconah. 

 

As the old cliche goes: The game’s not over till it’s over.

 

That was a perfect fit for this matchup because Mount Greylock came out of half-time break like a completely different team. The Mounties were first to the ball on many challenges and had a sharpness to their passing that was missing in the first half. Finally, they were rewarded for their hard work when Maddy Ross took on a couple defenders before slotting a pass across the box to Charlotte Rauscher whop tucked the ball away to give Mount Greylock their first goal of the game and much needed momentum moving forward. 

 

“We played hungrier, we weren’t intimidated, we stepped it up and challenged them in the middle of the field and that seemed to turned the game in our favor.” Mount Greylock coach Tom Ostheimer said. "Our game was much more physical in the second half and that was the difference.”

 

Greylock continued to fight the rest of the second half, keeping pressure on Wahconah and winning 50/50 balls in the Wahconah half. With eight minutes to go, the Mounties gained hope of drawing level after Ella Dudley finished one in the back of the net. The momentum from the first half was gone for Wahconah, and Mount Greylock continued to build it own more and more. After this second goal you could feel it in the air that an equalizer was coming.

 

Taking a page out of their opponents’ book, the Mounties were able to tie the game up from a corner kick with 4 minutes left in the game. Clara McWeeny sent the ball in and found the head of Karen McComish who scored to bring Mount Greylock level and secure post season play. 

 

“This game was huge, These games are often our roadblock, top teams in the North, so if we can come away with a point from Wahconah it puts us in good stead for the post-season,” Ostheimer added. "We knew we needed a point so it was good to get it.” 

 

Mount Greylock will host Mount Everett Wednesday, While Wahconah will take on Hoosac Valley Friday on the road.