Though the flavor of the Class L semifinals is indeed sweet for the Salem girls soccer team, their defeated quarterfinal-round opponent, Memorial, is hardly bitter. Last season, it was the Crusaders who defeated the Blue Devils on their way to the state’s final four.

This year, it was No. 4 Salem knocking off its 12th-seeded Queen City foe, 2-0, on Saturday, Nov. 1, to advance to the semis for the first time since 2002.

“It tastes good,” said Salem’s third-year head coach, Kendrick Whittle. “We’re happy with our accomplishment, but the thing I just told the girls, the thing I’m happiest with, is that they didn’t come off the field acting ecstatic.

You know, we’ve played very good soccer the last two games, but we have a bigger goal here.” Memorial obviously had the same aspirations, and coach Dan Wyborney said the Crusaders were right where they wanted to be. Salem simply outplayed them.

“We definitely started to shine a little bit near the end of the season, which is what happens every year,” said Wyborney of a squad he’s led to the semifinals two of the last four years. “You know, it doesn’t really matter what happens during the regular season or where you finish. It’s how you perform in the big games, and we’re a big-game team. Of course, today we didn’t really put it out there the way we could have and should have, but I give Salem a lot of credit for that.”

It didn’t help that the Crusaders were without injured standout midfielder Chantel Van Rossum.

Still, Whittle gave the brownie points to his back line of Caitlin Peters, Sarah Snyder, Avery Neusch, Sara Viehl, Kristine Gosson and Hannah LaRochelle for shutting down a Memorial offense that outscored its last five regular season opponents, 16-3, and led the Lady Crusaders to a 3-2 upset of No. 5 Pinkerton in the opening round of the playoffs.

Salem’s defense has yet to allow a goal in 160 minutes of playoff soccer and shut down Memorial’s Kaleigh Roberge, whom Whittle termed the most explosive striker in the state.

Offensively, it was Liz Edgerton who gave her team the early lead during a back-and-forth first half. Then, with 15 minutes left in the contest, Kayla Provenzano hooked a corner kick past MHS keeper Ashley Gendron to secure the win.

Now Wyborney is faced with the reality he’ll say goodbye to eight seniors; all played integral roles on this year’s team. That list includes Auburn’s Chantel Van Rossum and her sister Desirae. Gendron, a sophomore from Auburn, is likely to return next season.