Wait 'til next year: Hull girls soccer hopes to use Div. 5 semifinal loss as fuel for '24

LEOMINSTER – Once upon a time (actually just two years ago), the Hull High football team made a rare appearance on the big stage of a state final. The Pirates were denied that day by Randolph in a Division 8 Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium but used the experience to build an undefeated state championship team the very next season.

We bring this up because the Hull girls soccer team saw its best-ever playoff run end in defeat Wednesday night as second-seeded Monson rode a three-goal first-half barrage to a 4-1 win in the Division 5 semifinals at Doyle Field.

The third-seeded Pirates, who carried a 16-game unbeaten streak into this one, suffered their first defeat since a 3-2 setback to South Shore League rival Abington way back on Sept. 19. Hull had been 14-0-2 since that loss, but the magic run ended against high-powered Monson (22-0-1).

Now the Pirates – who will return a host of talented players for 2024, including star striker Elly Thomas and standout midfielder Fallon Ryan – will try to use this near-miss as motivation for their own title run next fall.

"I think it's definitely a goal of ours," longtime Hull coach Stew Bell said when reminded of the football script. "We've seen it happen in our own school. We've got a lot of strong players coming back and hopefully some kids coming up from the eighth grade that we think can help us. And we're going to build on it."

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Monson, fueled by its own playoff frustration in the form of last year's loss to Sutton in the state final, always was going to be a tough out. The Mustangs came in averaging six goals per game, having outscored opponents 132-19 on the season for a plus-113 goal differential. They had hit for seven or more goals on 13 different occasions.

Although Hull played a much better second half, finally getting on the board when Thomas converted from the penalty spot with 15 minutes remaining, a 3-0 halftime deficit proved to be too big of a hole. Hannah Murphy netted Monson's first two goals before Addison Peterson converted off a corner kick in the 30th minute.

Kendall Bodak made it 4-0 midway through the second half, moments after Monson goalkeeper Emily Provost had come charging off her line to deny Hull senior striker Veronica Fleming in a one-on-one battle at the top of the box.

"We knew that they were going to have a lot of pace," Bell said of the Mustangs. "I think we played hard, but we left a few gaps in that first half and they made us pay. But I'm proud of the girls. We never quit. And to be honest, I thought we had the more dangerous chances in the second half."

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Monson's big-game experience might have made the difference in the first 40 minutes. The Mustangs were the No. 1 seed in both 2022 (lost to Sutton in the state final) and 2021 (lost to Sutton in the state semis).

"It definitely does make us more relaxed and more prepared," Provost said. "(Hull) hasn't been in a game this big. We're used to it."

"We talked about it," Monson coach Eric Degnan said. "We've had some deep runs the last couple of years. We lost here in a heartbreaker last year in the state final by a goal and two years ago we made it to the state semis and lost by a goal. These girls are tested; they've been in a lot of big games. I can't imagine it does anything but help us."

Graduation will take a chunk out of Hull's offense with Fleming (14 goals, team-high 24 assists) and Sarah Duran (13 goals, 10 assists) moving on, along with talented midfielder Maeve White, forward Madison Constable and backup goalkeeper Ava Russo.

"Our seniors were unbelievable for us this year; we'll definitely miss that group," Bell said. "They brought a lot of intangibles and a lot of talent. But we do have a good group coming back and I think these girls now have experience in a big game. And even I got more experience, too, and I think that will help us."

There's also a lot of talent returning. Start with Thomas, who blossomed into a star as a junior this season. Her second-half PK was her 33rd goal of the season and fifth of the four-game playoff run.

"Last year we had a good, talented group, but we looked at each other and said, 'Why are we so much better this year?'" Bell said. "It's because everyone matured over the summer. And (Thomas) took her game to the next level. She was our top goal-scorer last year, too, but she pretty much doubled her output and became a two-goal-a-game player. Special."

Ryan, whom the Monson coach called a "heck of a player," chipped in 16 goals and 17 assists from midfield. She's a junior, too, as is Elsie Harper, the lone returner on an otherwise rebuilt back line that was strong in front of sophomore goalkeeper Montana Alibrandi (6 shutouts).

Hull finished 9-10 last season. The jump from that to this was remarkable. The next step will be even tougher, but it's doable.

"So many kids stepped up (this season)," Bell said. "About halfway through the season, when we tied Norwell 0-0, I said, 'Guys, we're for real; let's go for it.' And then we didn't lose for 16 games. That was pretty special."

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Monson ends Hull girls soccer's unbeaten run in Div. 5 semifinals