West Hartford’s Northwest Catholic High School girls soccer team defeated Lewis Mills 1-0 on Tuesday night, and will be heading to the CIAC finals for the fourth time in the past decade.

Submitted

The CIAC Class M State tournament semifinal between the No. 8 Lewis Mills Spartans and the No. 12 Northwest Catholic Lions took center stage on Tuesday night, Nov. 11, 2025, in New Britain.

It was a rematch of last year’s championship game, with Lewis Mills holding the reigning title. This clash was also the rubber match from the regular season, as each team had claimed victory on their home field.

From the opening whistle, the game swung back and forth. Lewis Mills tried to impose their style, launching long balls in search of quick breakthroughs. Northwest Catholic, meanwhile, focused on crisp ground passes and fluid connections up the field, determined to dictate the tempo. The Lions’ defense braced for a busy night – each Spartan attack threatened with swift, direct play deep downfield.

Northwest Catholic plotted a clear strategy: neutralize Lewis Mills’ biggest threat, star senior Lillian Castle. Senior captains Ashlyn Sklenka and Allie Loveless shared marking duties, limiting Castle to just a handful of shot attempts. There was added emotion on the field as Loveless and Castle are set to become Lafayette teammates next year.

Both sides carved out scoring chances in the first half, but it was Northwest Catholic who seized the moment. With twelve minutes left before halftime, Maeve Staunton fought through two defenders, shielding the ball and delivering a perfect layoff to Mya Montoney, who fired a stunning strike from outside the box. The ball soared over the keeper and into the back of the net, erupting the bench and stands in celebration.

As the clock wound down in the final 20 minutes of the game, Lewis Mills intensified their relentless attack. Northwest Catholic’s senior goalkeeper Abby Casper shone under pressure, producing spectacular saves to deny Leah Najman, Sadia Aston, Jill Tiso, and a dramatic header from Castle that skimmed just wide of the post. Casper collected 12 remarkable saves, capping the night with a crucial stop in the dying seconds.

With this hard-fought victory, Northwest Catholic earned its fourth finals appearance of this decade and now set their sights on securing their first championship title. The Lions prepare to face No. 14 seed Foran this weekend at Trinity Health Stadium in Hartford, surging with momentum and dreams of glory.

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