The Hopkinton Hillers girls soccer team eked out a dramatic 1-0 Round of 16 victory over Wellesley on Saturday to reach the quarterfinals, avenging an earlier 3-0 defeat at the Raiders’ hands. The difference came from the spot as Alia Chase converted the game-winner on a penalty-kick, and goalkeeper Ella Nye delivered a spectacular shutout performance that kept a dangerous Wellesley side off the board.
Hopkinton’s path to that moment included a 4-1 first-round win over Weymouth, and the Hillers’ resilience against one of the state’s stronger programs underscored their poise under pressure. Nye’s brilliance in net, arguably her best performance of the season, and Chase’s composure on the PK propelled the Hillers forward.
Hopkinton will face a tough test in Franklin (No. 6 seed) Thursday at 6 PM, as they edged Lincoln-Sudbury 2-1 last night and had previously beaten Shrewsbury 4-2. Hopkinton will need continued defensive excellence from Nye and timely finishing from its attackers to punch a ticket to the final four. The Panthers will be arguably their biggest test of the season and the Hillers will need to play up to their
