Sharon
Saturday will mark TSA’s first trip to the state finals in girls soccer. The top-seeded Phoenix (15-1-0) will play No. 3 Proctor (14-2-1) at Whitcomb High in Bethel.
Lloyd scored in the game’s 50th minute off a feed from Eleanor Frost, her typical partner in crime.
“They have beautiful chemistry, and almost like a sense about each other,” Sharon coach Blake Fabrikant said of the tandem. “They anticipate the space and know where each other is going to be. It’s unbelievable to watch them work in unison.”
The senior standouts have collectively scored 61 goals this season (37 for Lloyd and 24 for Frost).
Aided by a steady stream of feeds from Frost, Lloyd knocked on the door throughout the contest. She hit the crossbar twice in the first half. Her first near-miss bounced off the top of the bar following a stunning 40-yard rainbow shot from the left side.
When the dynamic duo finally connected, it was on one of several Sharon counterattacks. Frost collected the ball on the left side and led Lloyd with a through ball out to the right wing near the 18-yard line. Lloyd then did what she has done time and time again for the Phoenix — outran her opponent to the ball, made a deft move, then sent one past the keeper.
Lloyd headed back to join the defense soon after.
“When I was playing in younger grades, I went from defense to midfield up to striker and was actually a goalie, too,” Lloyd said. “I’ve played all the positions, but I’ve always had a more defensive mind. … My defensive mindset never went away.”
It wasn’t the first time Fabrikant had sent Lloyd back to join the likes of defensive stalwarts Lily Crowley, Kaila Skeet-Browning and Meghan Shirley.
“I pulled Mallory back with about 30 minutes, and it was a little conservative in hindsight,” Fabrikant said. “It’s (normal) to pull her back if we’re playing a team I believe has a bunch of scoring threats and we have a nice cushion. … 1-0’s not usually a cushion.”
Senior goalkeeper Abby Levy recorded seven saves to help Sharon earn its ninth shutout of the season.
The hosts benefited from the timely return of senior midfielder Maya Johnstone to the starting lineup.
Johnstone shattered her radius and broke her ulna in an Oct. 8 game against Rivendell. She didn’t think getting back on the field this season would be possible, but her outlook changed after undergoing surgery on Oct. 14.
“I went to the doctors, and they said you can do limited play,” Johnstone said. “Then I was talking with my mom and she said, ‘I know this is like your dream and you might never get this chance again, so I’m gonna let you do this.’ I was very excited. I’ve been an emotional wreck all day.”
Johnstone was clad in a foam protector worn over a hard cast.
“It makes me feel like a cave man,” she said. “I kind of feel unstoppable.”
Sharon was aggressive all day, but struggled to execute offensively despite outshooting its opponent, 21-11.
Following the big win, Fabrikant praised his squad for giving its all against the No. 5 Mountain Lions (9-7-1). He also issued a slight admonishment, coupled with a warning.
“We played hard, but we didn’t play well,” the third-year coach said. “Saturday, we need to play hard and play well.”
TSA will face Proctor, which on Wednesday defeated No. 3 West Rutland, 1-0, for the first time this season. The teams shared one common opponent: Long Trail, which Proctor defeated, 3-0, and tied, 1-1, both in the regular season.
The championship match has been a long time coming for Lloyd and company.
“Eleanor and I have been on varsity for four years,” she said. “Every year we get so close, but we don’t quite get there. So for both of us, this us unreal that we’re actually here, that we get to go to the finals.”