Copyright The Boston Globe
“I knew that was my moment,” Taccini said. “I just remember putting the ball on the line, and I knew my sweet spot.” The Panthers (16-2-3) now get ready to face No. 3 Wellesley (20-1-0) in a state semifinal Wednesday (7 p.m.) at Westborough High. The Hillers’ season ends at 9-7-5. Franklin had to fight extra-time for the win after Hillers senior Ella Fowler scored off a penalty corner on expired time to force overtime. But the hosts dominated 7-vs-7 play, and their majority underclass core powered through to the win. “I’m not surprised,” coach Michelle Hess said about her young team. “They came into the preseason with this confidence that they were in it from the start.” Neither team could gain an advantage until the second half, when Panthers junior Kiley Silvestri opened the scoring in the third quarter after back-to-back penalty corners. “When I got the stroke, I knew I was gonna [score],” Silvestri said. “I went in, scored, came back out, and the whole bench was pumped.” Hopkinton’s defense effectively shut down Franklin’s top scorers — sophomore Penelope Brady and senior Addi Weiss — forcing the Panthers to find alternate routes to score. Hopkinton defenders Lucie Mato and Tenley Winn shut down seven of the Panthers’ eight penalty corners, and goalie Riley Curtin finished with 12 saves. The Panthers, who last made the state semis in 2023, now ain for their first state championship appearance in program history. “I’m blessed with players that love this sport, and they come out every single day and work hard,” Hess said. “I think developing that culture and that tradition, we’re starting to have the expectation every single year to get back here.”
