No. 12 seed Northwest Catholic Lions defeated the No. 13 Stonington Bears, 1-0, in West Hartford on Friday in the the quarterfinal of the Class M State tournament.

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Right from kickoff, Northwest Catholic applied intense pressure to Stonington. The first – and only – goal arrived just 10 minutes in.

Allie Loveless headed the ball away from a Stonington goal kick, and it landed at the feet of an opposing player. Maeve Staunton closed in instantly, stole the ball, and surged through several defenders toward the left corner of the 18-yard box. She blasted a powerful left-footed shot from just inside the box, sending it soaring over the keeper and into the back of the net.

The Lions’ home crowd erupted.

In the second half, Stonington adjusted their formation in a bid to spark their offense, but the tactical change only made Northwest Catholic more comfortable. The Lions relentlessly pressured the Bears’ back line and wingbacks, preventing dangerous long balls. Stonington stuck to their game plan and continually pushed up different attacking options, earning a handful of long-ball opportunities.

Still, the Lions’ defense remained rock-solid – just as it has all season. Junior captain Maisie Boucher and standout freshman Olivia Roberts anchored the center back positions, delivering a masterclass in defensive coverage and refusing to concede chances.

Senior goalkeeper Abby Casper delivered a stellar performance once again, making crucial saves throughout the match, including two game-saving stops late in the second half.

The Lions took command of the clock in the closing 10 minutes, with midfielders Staunton and Ashlyn Sklenka dominating central play. On the left, Lily Johnson and Samantha Casper kept possession, working the ball downfield and pinning Stonington back.

Late in the game, Mikartny Hart entered with fresh energy, tirelessly pressuring the Bears’ defense as the Lions’ lone striker. Loveless dropped deeper to bolster the defense, effectively neutralizing the Bears’ biggest offensive threat, freshman Simone Wosencroft.

With just 90 seconds to play, Stonington earned a free kick inside the Lions’ half. Desperate for a last chance, they swung the ball in – but it rolled harmlessly out for a goal kick. Sklenka finished the job with two authoritative clearances and a crucial steal with 10 seconds left, sealing a dramatic victory.

Northwest Catholic marches into the semifinal, set to face No. 8 Lewis Mills on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at a neutral site – at New Britain High School – at 7 p.m.

Lewis Mills secured their spot with a commanding 3-0 win over No. 16 Joel Barlow. This semifinal matchup continues the intense rivalry: Northwest Catholic and Lewis Mills split their regular-season meetings, each defending home turf. Now, on neutral ground, they’ll battle once more – a thrilling rematch of last year’s finals, when Lewis Mills claimed the victory.

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