Girls’ soccer fell to Needham 3-1 at home Wednesday, Nov. 11, in their last match of the season.

“There are obviously a lot of emotions, being the last game, and it took us a while to get in that comfortable structure,” said Brian Leighton, the head coach. “Once we got into that structure of how we play, we competed really well.” 

North had several defensive miscommunications throughout the game, creating multiple chances for Needham. After North’s goalie mishandled the ball, Needham found themselves up 1-0. As Needham upped the tempo of the match, North failed to transition from offense to defense, resulting in another Needham goal. The quarter ended with North down 2-0.

In the second and third quarters, North played with more aggression, but were unable to connect on a few good rushes. Nearing the end of the fourth quarter, Needham landed a powerful kick in the back of the net, sealing the game. Minutes later, senior Claire Reiner ended North’s scoring drought with a stellar goal from outside the box. The game finished 3-1. 

Despite the loss, Leighton praised the team’s overall competitiveness this season. “In just four weeks, we have been competing and even winning against the top teams in the state,” said Leighton. “Our soccer IQ and ability to see the field are exceptional.”

The Tigers, 1-4-5, hope that this defeat will help the athletes prepare even more for next season. 

“We got the wheels moving pretty good, and it gives us some things to build off and improve on next year,” said Leighton.