The Nipmuc girls’ soccer team advanced to the Division 3 final after a tense 1-0 semifinal victory over No. 3 Norwell on Monday night. The Warriors entered the match as the No. 2 seed with an unbeaten 17-0-1 record, while Norwell stood at 14-2-2 and had rolled into the semis on the strength of a dominant 8-0 quarterfinal win over No. 11 Auburn.
This showdown lived up to the hype. Nipmuc relied on stalwart defense and timely finishing in a match that came down to a single moment of quality. Cate Tengler supplied that moment, netting the lone goal that sent the Warriors through to the championship. Before the semifinal, Nipmuc had outscored playoff opponents 13-2 across the opening three rounds, a run that demonstrated both attacking depth and defensive discipline.
With the final looming, Nipmuc will face top-seeded Medfield in a rematch of last year’s title game. Medfield will be seeking redemption after falling to Nipmuc in the previous final, and a packed crowd will settle in at Curry College for Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. kickoff to see if the Warriors can repeat or if Medfield will avenge last year’s outcome. Either way, fans should expect a high-stakes, heavyweight matchup.
