LEOMINSTER There was a point midway through the second half of Tuesday’s Division 2 girls soccer semifinal where No. 2 Longmeadow was in serious danger of seeing a two-goal lead slip away. Lancers coach Gina Pantuosco wasn’t worried. She knew the backbone of her team would shine through. And that’s just what happened as Emersynn Cage scored an insurance goal and sent Longmeadow into the final against Duxbury with a 4-2 win. “Our girls have showed so much resilience when they get scored on. Their bounce-back has been tremendous. They’ve got grit,” Pantuosco said. The Lancers (17-2-4) had the wind at their back in the opening 40 minutes, but it was King Philip (10-7-5) that delivered the game’s first marker when Ella McDonald flew up the middle and ripped a shot past Ava Nuzzo in the ninth minute. Longmeadow, however, began to steadily get the run of play with Cage finally paying off the pressure in the 20th minute off a corner kick. Another perfectly executed set piece gave them the lead with 11: 13 left in the half as Riley Greenman scored off the rebound of Samantha Tracy’s free kick. A critical insurance marker came with halftime looming as Greenman had her hand in this one also. Her perfect corner found its way onto Gracie DiStefano’s foot at near point-blank range. “We knew the wind was going to be a factor and we were glad to have it at our backs in the first half,” Pantuosco said. The Warriors would have that wind in the second half and they swarmed in the Longmeadow half almost from the second half kick. The pressure nearly paid off in a Claire Astorino goal 10 minutes in. Just under five minutes later, KP was rewarded as Ava Quintin bent her corner kick just inside the right post. The Olympico cut the lead to 3-2 as KP was charging. Then came a perfectly timed pass in the midfield by Longmeadow’s Rhaya Manning. It got Cage behind the defense and when Warriors keeper Lauren Obara gambled and missed breaking up the play, all Cage had to do was guide one into the open net to all but insure the Lancers first state final berth ever. “We’re taking it one game at a time, that’s how we’ve approached the whole season. Each round gets a little sweeter and we’re incredibly proud,” Pantuosco said.
https://www.bostonherald.com/2025/11/17/longmeadow-doubles-up-king-philip-to-reach-state-championship/
Longmeadow doubles up King Philip to reach state championship
