Libby Masalsky Scores Pair, Sends Girl's Soccer into Quarterfinals

Sophomore Libby Masalsky propelled the girl's soccer team into the MIAA Division 2 South Sectional quarterfinals with a 3-1 win Monday evening against . 

Masalsky put the Marauders on the board four minutes into the match when she popped a ball over Norton goalkeeper Jennifer Kilburn. Junior Emily Hill set-up the play with a cross into the 18-yard box that hit off Dedham's Kelly Quinn and to the feet of Masalsky.

"We knew we had to score goals. We knew one wasn't going to be enough tonight - at one point we knew two wasn't going to be enough because what I've heard about them is that they are a good offensive team," said Dedham coach Don Savi.

Then with a 2-1 advantage with 6 minutes to go in the second half, Dedham senior Jenna Savi rocketed a free kick toward net and Kilburn made a leaping save. The rebound just in front of Kilburn and again at the feet of Masalsky who buried the ball into the back of the net for her second goal.

"Jenna [Savi] and Emily [Hill] both had two really great crosses [...] and I really couldn't have gotten the two goals without them," Masalsky said after the match.

With the win, Dedham will travel to play Cardinal Spellman, who beat Dighton Rehoboth 4-1, at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Dedham jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first 12 minutes of the game as Jenna Savi scored on a 30-yard kick that sailed over Kilburn to give the Marauders the two-goal lead.

Norton senior midfielder Paige Almeida cut into Dedham's lead in the 30th minute. Almeida ricocheted a free kick off her stomach that caught Dedham goalie Ellen Masalsky leaning the wrong way. 

"The first 11 minutes we came out and played really well. I think we got too comfortable and we just sat back a little bit," coach Savi said.

After a sluggish end to the first half, the Marauders controlled play for most of the second half as they took over the midfield, and were able to play the ball deeper into Norton territory. 

"We knew our advantage was going to be up front against their defense, and we needed to have possession of the ball," coach Savi said. "I thought in the second half we did a better job controlling the ball in the middle."

Anchored by Ellen Masalsky and Kayla Sharpe, Dedham's defense kept Norton at bay, especially in the second half.

"It was tough to get any space. They smothered us in spots and a lot of our players are use to that but it's a better team than some of the teams we see and they did a nice job," said Norton coach Todd Kefor.