Skavlem Leads Mount Greylock Past Monument Mountain
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- Jane Skavlem scored a pair of goals Tuesday to lead the Mount Greylock girls soccer team to its third straight win, a 3-1 triumph over Monument Mountain in a non-league contest.
Livia Morales scored a goal, and keeper Emma Newberry stopped four shots for the Mounties, who improved to 5-2 on the day they welcomed Skavlem back to the lineup after an injury.
“This was Jane’s first game back in two-plus weeks, almost two and a half weeks,” Mount Greylock coach Tom Ostheimer said. “It was good to have her back. That really strengthens the team.
“That helps, having her back. And Livia has been doing a great job.”
Morales Tuesday scored her fourth goal of the season, two behind Lily McDermott for the team lead in that department.
Offensive chances were few and far between for most of the first half on Tuesday, but Mount Greylock broke through late with a pair of goals.
First, defensive mid Maire Scanlon stole a ball at midfield and fed Skavlem about 25 yards from goal. Skavlem took a couple of touches and worked around a Spartan defender before threading a shot between the post and a diving Emily Mead (six saves).
“We’ve got some good defenders,” Ostheimer said. “I thought Maire Scanlon did a great job on the outside. … She kept that play alive, which she does. She’s fearless.”
Moments later, Monument Mountain was whistled for a handball just outside the top of the 18, and Morales lofted a direct free kick from 19 yards over the wall and under the crossbar to give Mount Greylock a 2-0 lead at half-time.
Midway through the second quarter, Monument Mountain avoided its second straight shutout when Iris Firth scored off a throw-in from deep on the left wing to make it 2-1.
“To Monument’s credit, they really played hard the entire game,” Ostheimer said. “At the end, they were tired, we were tired, and they were still coming at us. They put a lot of pressure on us with a crossbar and a few other really good opportunities.”
The Spartans had four of their five shots on goal after intermission, and Abby Kinne fired a shot off the crossbar from the right wing after taking a pass from Ava Gamberoni.
By that time, it was a 3-1 Mount Greylock lead. Skavlem scored her second goal to make it a two-goal margin with about 10 minutes to play.
Lily McDermott started the play with a hard shot off that Mead was able to block at the top of the 18. McDermott got the rebound and played it to Skavlem, who lifted a shot over the retreating Mead and into the net.
Tuesday’s match marked the only regular season meeting between the former Berkshire County North Division rivals. Mount Greylock now plays in the Grieve Division, where it is 4-2. Monument Mountain (2-2-4 overall) is 2-1-3 against its opponents in the Central Division.
“A quality opponent, and we knew that going in,” Ostheimer said. “It’s great to play a Berkshire County game. As I said to their coach, ‘I’m sad we’re not playing you guys twice, because it’s always a great game.’ “
Monument Mountain returns to league play on Saturday when it hosts Lenox. Mount Greylock has an independent game on Thursday at home against Mount Anthony Union of Bennington, Vt.