Offensive Outburst Carries Stoughton High Girls’ Soccer Past Taunton

By the time the first half of Thursday’s game with Taunton came to an end, the girls’ soccer team had already scored more goals (three) than they had scored in their previous five games combined (two).

Stoughton kept the offense going in the second half, winning 6-3 at home, sweeping the season series against their future Hockomock League foes ().

With the win, Stoughton improves to 4-8-2 on the season, snapping a five game winless streak (0-3-2).

Senior captains Mikayla Williams and Alicia Macomber combined to score all six goals for the Black Knights.

Williams scored four times, while Macomber scored twice.

“They worked together well,” Stoughton coach Gary Muello said. “They saw one another [and] completed their passes.”

For a team that has been shutout eight times this season, Muello said Thursday’s offensive outburst was the result of controlling possession.

Muello’s reasoning was simple. He said if his team controls possession, Stoughton will have more shot opportunities, and therefore they will score more goals. And they did just that against Taunton.  

He said the team is learning the importance of a possession-oriented offense vs. a “kick and run” style of play.

“It’s better, but not where it needs to be,” Muello said of the team’s ability to control possession.

Stoughton took an early 2-0 lead when Macomber and Williams scored about a minute apart from one another. Twenty minutes later, Macomber put the Black Knights up 3-0.

Taunton cut the Stoughton lead to 3-2 heading into the half, but Stoughton scored two early goals (both by Williams) in the second half to increase the lead back to three goals.

The two teams traded goals in the final 20 minutes of the game to account for the final score. Williams had the final goal for Stoughton with 11:05 to play.

Muello credited Rachel Berkowsky for her play in net. Only a sophomore, Muello said she is “aggressive” and has “good things ahead of her.”

The Stoughton coach said his squad is “starting to come together better as a team as the season goes on.”

The Black Knights travel to Fontbonne Academy Monday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. (Oct. 17). , 3-1, Sept. 26 at home.