The Lady Rebels 2015 season ended on Thursday, October 29, with a tie to Norwood (1-1). Although the team had already qualified for tournament after their tie to Hopkinton (0-0), the game still affects their momentum going into the postseason.  Seeded 14, Walpole Girls Soccer faces off against 19 seed Durfee on Wednesday, November 4.

Despite a seed advantage, Walpole Interim Head Coach William Wallace said, “We are facing a team with a similar record, so it should be an interesting game.”

The Hilltoppers’ 7-11-0 (.389) record sets the stage for “an interesting game,” for Walpole has also only attained seven victories this season (7-5-6).  Both teams’ similar records are ironic because Durfee’s current team name, the Hilltoppers, is the same name Walpole had up until 1965 when they themselves changed from the Walpole Hilltoppers to the Walpole Rebels.

Despite the irony, the Rebels will need to score goals and maintain a higher level of competitiveness if they are to make a serious run into the playoffs.

Against Norwood (1-14-2), Walpole ended their season with a 1-1 tie. Norwood was only able to notch a total of four goals in their first fifteen games.  Their statistics along with the fact that the team was unable to get a win for over thirty-six games proves that the Mustangs should not have been a problem for the Rebels, who have consistently made the postseason the last four years in a row.

 However, Walpole has played down to their opponents’ level in their last five games, and that was the case again against Norwood.  The scoring started off with a goal from the Mustangs that maintained a 1-0 lead until the final minutes of the half when Walpole tied up the score.  After that, the game was just back and forth, both teams running up and down the field, unable to put any balls in the back of the net.

Junior Emily O’Connell said, “I know if we can step up our level of intensity even more than it is now, and generate a stronger offense, we will have no problem in the first round.”

A win over Durfee in the Preliminary Round would advance Walpole to face off against 3 seed Franklin.  The First Round matchup would be played on Friday, November 6.