by Maureen Carchidi
7/12/2013

The Holliston Red Heat, a HYSA U14 Girls Division 3 team, won the President’s Cup Tournament hosted by the Boston Area Youth Soccer League on June 22^nd in Medfield.  Twenty-nine other U14 Division 3 BAYS teams participated in the tournament.  With a bye in the first round of the tournament, the Red Heat began their quest for the championship on May 30^th in Needham in a second round game in which they beat the Bluebloods 3 – 2.  Emma Guccione was instrumental in this win with two goals. 

Next up was the Needham Cyclones in what proved to be a very exciting game.  Holliston trailed 1 – 0 with a few minutes left in the second half when Rachel Elkinson scored to tie the game.  With the score tied 1 -1 at the end of regulation the game went into two five-minute overtime periods.  In the first overtime Emma Guccione scored and ultimately Holliston was able to hold onto the 2 – 1 lead throughout the second overtime to secure the victory and advance. 

The Red Heat then faced the Newton Cosmos in a dramatic semi-final match. Holliston had just played a regular season BAYS game the night before in torrential downpours.  It was a hot night on Newton South’s High School turf field with milkweed permeating the air.  The Red Heat persevered despite their exhaustion and held Newton to a scoreless tie through out double overtimes.  This ultimately led the match to be decided by penalty kicks in which Ashley Fondo was stellar in net in a stressful situation.  Emma Guccione, Elena Daly and Julia Whiting scored off of penalty kicks.  After the first round of penalty kicks the score was tied 3 – 3 and a sudden death round of penalty kicks ensued.  Ashley was fierce and defiant in net and stopped Newton’s first attempt to score.  Meghan Halpern carried her team into the President’s Cup Championship by knocking a shot into the upper right hand corner of the net.  An epic win! 

Holliston faced Franklin United in the President’s Cup Championship game on June 22^nd at Wheelock Field in Medfield.  The Red Heat scored their first goal mere minutes into the game.  Elena Daly scored the winning goal off a perfectly placed corner kick by Emma Guccione with a few minutes remaining in the second half.  Hailey Ryan, Meghan Halpern and Megan Burke put forth a tremendous defensive effort to hold Holliston’s

2 – 1 lead for the President’s Cup Championship.   

The U14 Girls Holliston Red Heat team was comprised of 13 eighth graders and 4 seventh graders.  Members of the Red Heat include:  Megan Burke, Erica Chipman, Gaby Cummins, Elena Daly, Rachel Elkinson (capt.), Ashley Fondo, Emma Guccione,
Meghan Halpern, Haley Hanstad, Kathryn Johnston, Jillian Nall (captain), Shannen Murphy, Sophie Noe, Hailey Ryan, Taylor St. George, Josie Underwood and Julia Whiting (captain).  The team was coached by Maureen Carchidi and Robyn Elkinson and managed by Val Ryan.  The coaches look forward to watching ten of their eighth graders play soccer and three play field hockey in high school next fall.

Back row, left to right: Coach Robyn Elkinson, Erica Chipman, Sophie Noe, Rachel Elkinson, Julia Whiting, Taylor St. George, Kathryn Johnston, Elena Daly, Ashley Fondo and Coach Maureen Carchidi. 

First row, left to right: Hailey Ryan, Megan Burke, Emma Guccione, Meghan Halpern, Haley Hanstad and Gaby Cummins. 

Missing from the photo are Shannen Murphy, Jillian Nall and Josie Underwood.