Dedham Soccer Advances to Semifinals on Penalty Kicks

Following a scoreless regulation and two overtimes, it was sophomore Sabrina Ferhani's foot and junior Ellen Masalsky's hand that has the Dedham girl's soccer team still playing soccer.

Ferhani booted home the deciding goal in penalty kicks as fifth-seeded  went on the road and eliminated fourth-seeded Cardinal Spellman 3-2 in the shootout round.

"Cardinal Spellman is a really good team. It was a physical, strong, tough team. You are in the quarterfinals - everybody is good now," coach Don Savi said.

Sophomore Libby Masalsky and senior Sarah Warjas scored the other two goals in the shootout.

Dedham was able to fend off the Cardinal Spellman attack, including a late one-handed save by Ellen Masalsky, Savi said.

Meanwhile, Dedham's offense didn't generate many chances.

"They carried the play," Savi said. "We just couldn't get going."

The win sends the Marauders into a Division 2 South Sectional semifinal matchup against eighth-seeded Duxbury, the team that .

The game will played at 2 p.m. Friday at Weymouth High School.

It was Dedham's first shootout since 2007, and they've won their last six games when decided by penalty kicks, Savi said.

"It's not really the right way to end the game though, I feel strongly about that," Savi said. "I'd rather see them end it on the field playing."

Duxbury (12-2-4) upended top-ranked East Bridgewater 1-0 in their quarterfinal match Wednesday.

The in the first round of the MIAA Division 2 playoffs on Monday with a 3-1 victory, thanks to Libby Masalsky's two goals.