AYER – The Ayer-Shirley Regional girls’ soccer team is off to a strong start to the 2024 season.
On Thursday night, the Panthers welcomed their Mid Wach D rival Red Raiders of Fitchburg to Harold G. Norton Athletic Complex looking to pick up its third win in four matches on the young season.
On the strength of three goals from Sastea Cherduville, the host Panthers picked up a 5-2 victory under the lights.
Ayer-Shirley improves to 3-1 overall on the season and 3-1 in league play while the Red Raiders fall to 1-2-1 overall and 1-2-1 in league play.
Ayer-Shirley head coach Bill Naylor spoke with the Ayer-Shirley Tracker after Thursday’s victory.
“I thought the girls played great tonight. The girls look to get better each day and I thought was a good opportunity for them to go out and play a team with a similar record,” said Naylor. “The girls were the aggressor. I thought they controlled the ball and controlled possession. I thought we were able to take advantage of our athleticism.”
Leading 1-0 at the half thanks to a goal from Ariana Diaz during the 24th minute of the first half, the host Panthers exploded for four goals in the second half of Thursday night’s contest. Kelsey Peterson’s doubled the Panthers lead when she beat Fitchburg goalie Ella Kitchin during the first minute of the second half and the 41st minute of the match.
Ayer-Shirley made it 3-0 a minute later when Cherduville scored her first of the match during the 42nd minute.
Cherduville struck again during the 49th minute of the match when she buried a direct kick from just outside the box to make it 4-0.
Fitchburg got on the scoreboard during the 51st minute when Mia Robertson found a way to slip one past Panthers goalie Alexis Carlson (three total saves). To make it 4-1. Cherduville made it 5-1 during the 6oth minute before Robertson struck again later in the half during the 73rd minute of the contest to conclude the scoring.
“Sastea is one of the best strikers, if not the best striker in the league and when she’s on, nobody can handle her,” said Naylor. “She’s a gifted athlete. She puts in the work every day and she deserves all the credit and success she gets.”
In addition, the Panthers received strong performances from Molly Cormier, Lauren Reardon, Emily Churchill and Lorelai Levy.
The Panthers are coming one of their best seasons in program history. Last fall, Ayer-Shirley qualified for the Massachusetts Division 5 Tournament and picked up its first tournament win in program history with a triumph over Prospect Hill Academy of Cambridge.
“Last season was my first year here and they were coming off a one-win season but this team was able to qualify for the tournament last year and earn its first win in program history,” said Naylor. “This year, the girls came back and took it upon themselves to really improve over the summer. They played pickup together over the summer and came in the first day of tryouts better than when they left here at the end of last year.”
Captains Churchill, Reardon, Peterson, Chandra Eli-Johnson and Grace Hanss lead this year’s team.
The Panthers return to action on Tuesday afternoon when the Lions of West Boylston Middle/High school visit Washington Street.
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