Penalty Kicks Propel Warriors Past Wamps

By Eliot Schickler

Perfection in the penalty kicks round propelled the Brookline High girls’ soccer team into the Division 1 quarterfinals.

Third-seeded Brookline made all five of its penalty kicks in its 3-2 (5-3) home victory over 14th-seeded Braintree High in the second round of the Division 1 playoffs. While the Warriors, who raised their record to 10-6-3, were 5-for-5 in the penalty kicks round, Braintree, which ended the year at 10-8-2, missed its first kick, and that was the difference in the game.

“To score the final goal to put the game away in PK’s is the hardest one,” Brookline Coach Ben Peters said. “Everyone had all the confidence in the world that V would put that away and she did.”

Peters was referring to Warriors senior quad-captain Vilena Tchernychev, who booted the penultimate shot past Wamps freshman goalie Liv Whelan high in the air and away from where she was in the net.

“It was just a matter of staying calm. I took my time walking up and took a second after the referee blew the whistle for me to kick,” Tchernychev said. “I think the worst thing you can do when taking a PK is rushing because you need to be completely focused so I made sure to take my time.”

Warriors senior quad-captain Anna Leschly said, “I was overjoyed to watch that PK go in. I had so much confidence in V, and it was a perfect PK.”

Tchernychev finished off Braintree, but she didn’t do it alone in the penalty kicks round. Senior quad-captain Sydney Freese slid her shot past Whelan’s right to give Brookline a 1-0 lead.

“We’ve been practicing penalty kicks all week, and I knew what I had to do,” Freese said. “It feels pretty good.”

Following Freese, it was Wamps junior Caitlin Nugent’s turn to try and tie it. However, Warriors senior goalie Julia Churwin may have psyched her out, as Nugent’s kick went wide, which the difference in the game.

Next up for Brookline was Leschly, a Boston Globe All-Scholastic honoree in 2023. She slid her kick past Whelan’s left to make it 2-0.

“I definitely felt a lot of pressure. PK shootouts are very nerve-wracking, but at the end of the day, we had all fought hard during that game and knew what we had to do going into the PK shootout,” Leschly said.

Braintree senior Hannah Carr lifted her kick in to make it 2-1. Playing her first game after missing time with an injury, Warriors sophomore Haley Ament lifted a shot off of Whalen’s hands, which landed in the net to make it 3-1.

“Obviously, I felt the stress because of the environment, but I knew my teammates supported me,” Ament said. “I have a routine when I take penalty kicks. I don’t look at the net, I look at the ball.”

After converting her kick, Ament felt a sense of relief.

“Because I’m younger [than my teammates], I didn’t want to be the one to miss it. I just cleared my mind, and I was confident,” Ament added.

Wamps senior Reilly Burke slid her shot past Churwin’s side to make it 3-2, which set up another turning point of the penalty kicks round. Brookline senior quad-captain Makena Hammond was next, and Whalen stopped it. However, Braintree’s goalie moved before she was allowed to move, which was the correct call, and gave Hammond a second chance.

“I was surprised, but I was glad I got a second chance,” Hammond said.

She took advantage of this opportunity and booted it to Whelan’s right to make it 4-2.

“It was a high-pressure and nerve-wracking moment, and it was mentally intense,” Hammond said. “My teammates gave me a lot of confidence, and I’m glad I made the shot.”

Leschly said, “I was confused at first, but then definitely felt a rush of relief. Her second PK was perfectly placed.”

Junior Mya Ranieri temporarily kept Braintree alive when she slid her kick past Churwin, but Tchernychev ended all hopes for the Wamps with her kick.

This wasn’t the first time the Warrior captain was a heroine on the pitch. With 24:50 left in regulation, Hammond was knocked down and drew the foul. Warrior junior Mirabelle Keselman boomed a free kick from the right, which crossed over to the left wing, and Tchernychev kicked
in the equalizer.

“We practice my free kicks at practice a few times a season so I can get a feel of where I should be aiming, and everyone else can try to get a good read of where they should be going,” Keselman said. “I also grew up having a “big boot” so the power comes pretty naturally, finding the right aim is what I have been working on improving.”

Tchernychev said, “I knew Mirabelle could get the ball far post, it is what she has been doing all season long. I remember thinking as she was taking the kick “V just get your foot on the ball and in the net,” so I ran far post the goalie fumbled it a bit and I tapped it in.”

Having a sense of urgency fueled Tchernychev.

“I was trying to go in and score,” Tchernychev said. “I was glad I was able to score. I love this team, and I would do anything for them. I wanted to put the ball in the back of the net and keep the season going.”

Peters said, “I was so happy for V when she tied the game for us. Set pieces is something that we’ve been working on a lot throughout the season because it can make or break a game for you. We always talk about just putting your body in the right spot on set pieces and just attacking the ball.”

Following Tchernychev’s equalizer, both Churwin and Whelan made stellar saves on their respective opponents. Keselman and senior Babette Hall led a fierce defense and were helped by senior Greta Radtke, juniors Lila Cannon and Julia Vienello, and sophomores Jamie Magee and Hannah Greer. The defensive players deftly executed their tackles to stop the Wamps.

“In terms of tackles I think that I love the feeling of putting in a tackle so whenever I have the opportunity I’ll use physique,” Keselman said. “I also think working with the rest of my defense is
very important.”

Also making her triumphant return to the pitch was Warrior sophomore midfielder Julianna Segal, who sent a few booming kicks into the attack zone. Freese, Hammond, Leschly, Tchernychev,
juniors Jada Kimbro and Priscila Hill along with sophomore Paige Hammond also did well in attacking the net.

Sometimes, it appeared as if Braintree played football (American, as in the NFL) or roller derby instead of soccer because of its extra physical play, which bordered on dirty. However, the referees didn't flag the Wamps as much as they should have.

“It was difficult in moments because the referees weren’t calling a lot in our favor but I think I focused my attention less on Braintree’s aggression and more on not letting them score another goal after we had gone down,” Tchernychev said.

Leschly said, “All I can really control is myself, so I just try to play my hardest during every game and do everything I can for the team. They were a physical team, but I can’t really control how other teams play so I just try to focus on myself and my own game.”

Seniors Ashley Churwin and Nora Sheu, along with juniors Elin Lindgren-Palm, Amalia Lindgren-Palm, and Eva Berkson contributed in the midfield and supported the attack.

Elin Lindgren-Palm is becoming the breakout star of the playoffs. After netting two assists in the opening-round win, she scored her first career goal in the first half against Braintree.

“I’m just really glad to have the team I do, and I’m glad I trust them,” Elin Lindgren-Palm said. “It feels amazing.”

Peters said, “Elin had been a huge part of this team all season and worked so hard for herself and her teammates to get to where she is now. She’s a dedicated athlete and teammate and puts the team first with everything she does.”

The play began with Freese’s clear turning into an outlet pass for Lindgren-Palm.

“Sydney cleared the ball, she saw me, and I had an open lane,” Elin Lindgren-Palm said.

Sophomore Payton Cloughton tied it for the Wamps with 7:01 remaining in the half. Braintree took a 2-1 lead with 3:01 left on sophomore Mia Francis’ goal.

This win avenged a 2-1 loss at Braintree on October 1.

“Whenever you lose to a team previously in the season, it builds up inside you to want to fight even harder next time to get the win and that’s what carried through for us against them the second time around,” Peters said.

Tchernychev said, “I think playing Braintree earlier in the season helped because we knew not to underestimate them. They are a very hard-working team and it was good being aware of that ahead of the game.”

On paper, the Warriors should beat the Wamps with ease. However, Braintree has always kept it close against Brookline during the last four years.

“They’re a Bay State Team. Anyone of the Bay State teams can beat anyone on any given day. Braintree is a really good team and they proved it during the game," Peters said. “Being down in a playoff game is always nerve-wracking, but I had confidence this team was not going down without a fight.”

Leschly said, “Braintree is a very physical team that always presses us and gives us a tough game. They play with a lot of grit and heart. I think the game was definitely a physical battle. It wasn’t a very possession-based game but rather focused on gritty defense and clinical finishes in the box.”

Freese said, “They're a good team, and we knew it would be a battle. I just wanted to move on and continue the season for as long as possible.”