For the first time in over a decade, the NISH girls soccer team will be playing in a second round playoff game. 

After defeating No. 22 Parkway (11-5-5) by six goals on Thursday, the No. 11 seed Yellow Jackets will face off against either No. 6 Ben Franklin or No. 27 Northwood next week. 

“It’s exciting. I’m really happy for the girls, they deserve this,” said head coach Wayland Bourque. “I wish our play was a little better, but we had to fight the wind and a lot of our players are sick.”

With several starters missing from the roster, the Yellow Jackets made the decision to field the strongest midfield they could to provide cover and support for the defensive line. Parkway repeatedly tried to play deep passes over the defense for attackers to run onto, a tactic that Bourque said he anticipated. 

“We’re missing half of the players on our back line, so we had to adjust. I was expecting (the long ball) with the team that they are and the mentality that they have,” he explained. “Not saying that it’s a bad thing, but they like to play the long ball.”

NISH controlled the tempo of the game well through all 80 minutes. Passes into space from the midfielders found open wingers in wide areas, stretching the field and forcing Parkway’s defense to open up lanes for the Yellow Jackets to exploit. 

Parkway opened the scoring just six minutes into the game, finding the back of the net against the run of play. NISH answered back almost immediately with a goal of their own, scored by senior midfielder Gabi Sorrel at the eight minute mark.  Four minutes later, Marlie Muffoletto doubled NISH’s tally after smashing in a poorly cleared ball from the Parkway goalkeeper. 

Cameron Delahoussaye’s corner kick found the head of Talia Touchet for NISH’s third goal, followed by Sorrel’s second goal just before halftime. 

Sorrel added her third goal halfway through the second half, scoring from distance to the goalkeeper’s right. Aubree Delahoussaye scored NISH’s sixth goal of the night, followed by another score from Talia Touchet with six minutes remaining in the game. 

The win advances NISH to the regional round of the Division II playoffs. SHould NISH face off against expected opponent Ben Franklin (13-9), they will have to contend with a team who ended the regular season with nine wins from their final 10 games. 

Senior midfielder Gabi Sorrel said that coming into the matchup as underdogs might be an advantage to NISH. 

“We’re going to give it our all, we’re going to go for it. If anything, we have nothing to lose, so let’s leave it all out on the field.”