Girls Soccer Advances to Sweet 16 With Penalty Kick Win Over Whitman-Hanson

November 6, 2025
 
In a classic MIAA Division 2 playoff showdown, the No. 13 seed Westwood Girls Soccer team battled through the cold, the physicality, and the pressure Thursday night at Flahive Field — and came out victorious over No. 20 Whitman-Hanson in unforgettable fashion.
 
The game was everything you want in playoff soccer: a brisk fall night under the lights, two evenly matched teams, and a crowd on edge with every possession. Both defenses stood tall in a bruising, back-and-forth affair.
 
Westwood’s back line of Olivia Mason, Emma Lu, Veneta Stamatakos, and Avery Boehm, anchored by goalkeeper Sofia Bertone, was rock solid — turning away every Panther threat and earning a hard-fought postseason shutout.
 
After 80 minutes of regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods, the score remained deadlocked at 0–0. Westwood controlled much of the possession in extra time, but Whitman-Hanson keeper Addison Hughes came up clutch with several highlight-reel saves to keep her team alive.
 
That set the stage for a dramatic finish — penalty kicks. Westwood kicked first sending out Izzy Hanson, Lindsey Bannister, Madisyn Travers, Catherine McMurray (Shoutout Catherine who came into game in last five minutes and delivered when her number was called for the 4th PK, Incredible!), and freshman Cassidy McGovern. Westwood was perfect with their first four scorers, which Whitman Hanson matched until the 4th Panther PK attempt hit the crossbar, and setting the stage for Cassidy McGovern. The freshman stepped up and buried her shot — clinching the win and sending the Wolverines into the Round of 16 amid an eruption of cheers and celebration.
 
It was a playoff night to remember — full of grit, resilience, and a touch of magic from a fearless freshman