BY SAPNA PATHAK

Facing elimination or advancement during this year’s Class L girls soccer tournament, Manchester Memorial responded to its first two challenges before falling to upstart Pinkerton Academy, 2-1, in the state semifinals on Tuesday, Oct. 30.

Kaleigh Roberge scored Memorial’s lone goal 15 minutes into the match, but Pinkerton strung together two quick goals, 15 minutes apart, in the second half.

“One loss doesn’t take away from the accomplishments of the regular season," said Memorial head coach Dan Wyborney. "It ends the season, but it doesn’t change the good things we did.”

Seeded fifth, the Crusaders took on Class L power Merrimack, the No. 4 seed, in the tourney’s quarterfinals, squeezing out a 3-2 win to advance.

“We went in knowing if we could control their striker, who’s a huge force on their offense, we could keep the game attainable,” said Wyborney. “That’s the way Class L has been this year. The ball can bounce one way once or another way once, so there were no guarantees.”

Memorial took a 1-0 lead against the Tomahawks when Roberge took advantage of a miscue between Merrimack’s goalie and defenders. Auburn’s Kariel Parian turned in a strong first-half defensive effort to preserve the one-goal lead.

Eight minutes into the second half, Merrimack scored its first goal, but Roberge answered with her second goal roughly 12 minutes later for a 2-1 Crusaders’ advantage. Midfielder Chantel Van Rossum of Auburn provided the final goal, scoring four minutes after Roberge’s second goal.

The defense allowed another goal with seven minutes remaining, but the Crusaders held on. Senior captain and starting goalie Kelsey Isham of Auburn made two saves in the second half to keep her teammates motivated.

“Kelsey was great,” said Wyborney. “She’s a very strong leader, and she made two huge saves that kept us in that game. Merrimack could’ve gone on a tear after we began the half up one goal, and she really didn’t allow that to happen or them to gain any momentum.”