Coming into the season, the Cambridge Rindge and Latin girls soccer team had only one goal: making the MIAA tournament for the first time in four years.
Mission accomplished. The Falcons, led by a strong, experienced class of upperclassmen, solid goaltending and a freshman phenom finished the season against Melrose last Friday night, and will spend the remainder of the week preparing for their upcoming tournament game.
Captains Isabel Koyama, Kayla Blackborow and Mei-Lin Pratt have served as the Falcons’ driving forces all year, while Phoebe Ruben has been solid in goal. Azianna Simmons has led the Falcons’ defensive effort.
The Falcons have also received a spark from freshman Mo Nelson, who finished second in the GBL in goals. Nelson’s prowess around the net has given the Falcons’ another dimension on offense.
With that goal now accomplished, the Falcons will look to surprise some people in the upcoming tournament. The Falcons finished second in the GBL, behind a good Medford team. They will likely open the tournament on the road. The Falcons know the task in the tournament will be much tougher. The Greater Boston League is not renowned for girls’ soccer, and the Falcons have had a tough go of it in their last two tournament appearances, dropping an 8-0 decision to Winchester in their last playoff appearance and a 6-2 decision in 2006 against Masconomet.
“The girls who were on the team in 2007 know that the teams they face in the tournament will be much stronger than some of the opponents they played during the regular season,” said Falcons’ head coach Janet Goldman.
The tournament schedule will be released in the upcoming week. Tournament information can be found at www.miaa.net