BY RYAN O'CONNOR

The Blue Devils girls soccer team rolled out the welcome mat for rival Pinkerton Academy during Salem homecoming festivities. Then the girls turned around and slammed the door right in the Astros’ faces.

Though Pinkerton entered the contest on Saturday, Sept. 22, with a 4-3 record, the two squads left the field tied in the Class L standings following a 4-2 victory by the hosts.

“It was certainly a big win for us,” said head coach Kendrick Whittle. “I think going into the second half at 4-4 is significant.”

Freshman Cassie Chase scored first, unassisted, followed by a goal from sophomore Sarah Raye on an assist from freshman Gina Reghini. A tally by senior Liz Merriken, aided by sophomore Olivia Connors, and another Raye score, assisted by junior Caitlin Peters, accounted for Salem’s total. Peters, said Whittle, has also been the backbone of his young defense.

Three of Salem’s four defeats have come at the hands of the top three teams in the Class L standings. The Blue Devils lost 1-0 in overtime to defending champion Exeter, 3-0 to undefeated Manchester Central and 3-0 to one-loss Londonderry.

And while several of Salem’s most prolific scorers are underclassmen, inconsistency – often a by-product of youth – has hampered the Blue Devils’ ability to challenge Class L’s elite thus far, said Whittle.

“Some days we’re exceeding, and some days we’re not meeting, our expectations,” said Whittle. “Today was certainly a day where, as a team, our intensity was an A. We were into the game for all 80 minutes, and it showed in the result. There are other days when we come out flat, and we struggle to put it together.”

An example, said the coach, was Salem’s 2-1 home loss to Dover on Tuesday, Sept. 18, when the Blue Devils missed several opportunities to tie and possibly win the game.

Still, having sophomore Sarah Snyder tending net, said Whittle, gives the young Devils a legitimate chance to contend for a title as early as this year and beyond.

“Her play this year has brought us to another level,” said Whittle. “You’ll see us in the playoffs.”