Rockets' Playoff Hopes Are History

With the end of the regular season fast approaching, it's getting to be crunch time for high school teams throughout Massachusetts looking to secure the final points they need to qualify for the MIAA state soccer tournament. 

Unfortunately for the Reading Memorial High School girls soccer team, those playoff hopes were dashed after a 1-0 loss to Melrose after a hard-fought battle at home on Thursday.  

The words "won at a time" were displayed on the fence at the next to the turf, symbolizing the fact that the Rockets had to win all of its remaining games to qualify for States. 

"We had to win today, and we had to win all of our remaining games," said Reading coach Mike Sheedy. "It was a stretch to think we could do it, but we held on to it and said one game at a time."  

Although the loss eliminates the Rockets from making the playoffs, Sheedy will hold on to that fact that his squad has been playing exceptionally well lately. 

"We will go into every game and know we're out of the tournament but so what, we know we're playing well," said Sheedy. "It's bittersweet, the team will take the pride from this game and play the rest of them like this." 

The only goal of the game came when Melrose captain Charlotte Mays took the ball downfield and then crossed it to teammate Laura Gillis. With one touch, Gillis capitalized on the pass, and just like that the Red Raiders were up 1-0 with little time left to play. 

As time expired, one teams' playoff hopes were gone and another's moved forward. 

"They've been playing really [hard] and working hard as a team, and this was a hard-fought win. It's fun, and the team is happy," said Melrose coach Bill DeSimone.

Unlike the Rockets, the Red Raiders' playoff hopes are still very much alive as Melrose only needs six more points to secure a tournament spot. 

"I'm happy we got the win," said DeSimone. "We need points and we have to make the tournament.This gives us 12 points and we need 18, and with five games left we will see what happens."

Next up, Melrose will take on Stoneham on Tuesday at home at 6 p.m. The Rockets will take on Lowell on Saturday at home at 6 p.m.