Lenox Girls Blank Pathfinder in Sectional Quarter-Final

LENOX, Mass. -- On Monday, members of the Lenox girls soccer team watched their school’s boys team advance to the Western Massachusetts Division 4 semi-finals.

 

They must have been playing pretty close attention.

 

Twenty-four hours later, the Lenox girls followed pretty much the same script to earn a 6-0 win over Pathfinder in their D4 quarter-final, setting up a Thursday semi-final against second-seeded Gateway (12-2-3) at Holyoke High School.

 

Once again, the Millionaires scored early and often, took a 4-0 lead into half-time, and scored in the opening moments of the second half to erase all doubt.

 

“It was important to be able to get the first goal early in this game and take away some of the nerves for our first tournament game,” Lenox coach Kyle Zinchuk said. “It was also very helpful in terms of gaining control of the game early and keeping control. This allowed us to rest some of our starters and keep them fresh ahead of the upcoming semi-final game.”

 

Nicole Gamberoni got things started with a left-footer from about 22 yards out on the left wing off a pass from Julie Pehlert just 36 seconds into the game.

 

Gamberoni finished with two goals and two assists, and Pehlert went on to score a goal of her own.

 

Abby Schilling scored twice, Mary Elliot scored a goal, and Kristin Parkinson had three assists.

 

Sophie Patella and Julianne Harwood combined to make four saves as Lenox (11-5-3) won its sixth straight.

 

The third-seeded Millionaires are unbeaten in their last eight going into Thursday’s semi-final against Gateway, a 2016 sectional finalist.

 

Lenox will be looking to get back to the Western Mass final for the second time in three years.