Girls Soccer Earns Fifth Straight Win

October 21, 2026
• With five games left in the regular season, the Rockets are 11-1-1. 

After going down 1-0 to Walpole on Oct. 20, Needham girls soccer scored three unanswered goals to defeat the Timberwolves 3-1, extending their win streak to five games.

The Rockets, who entered the match with a 10-1-1 record and ranked third in the latest MIAA Division One Power Rankings, had not beat Walpole twice in a season since 2021. With a 3-1 win at Walpole earlier in the season, Needham secured the first season sweep of the Timberwolves in five years with the win at Cricket on Tuesday.

Despite the Rockets dominating possession early on, Walpole struck first about 20 minutes into the first half. Maggie Peterson came out of net for Needham, challenging Allie Ma, who was on a breakaway. Ma got around Peterson and scored to put Walpole up 1-0.

With eight minutes left in the half, Sydney Kalaw sent a cross into the Timberwolves’ box, and Ellie Mack evened the score for the Rockets with a header to the right side.

Tied at 1 heading into the second half, Needham continued to pepper Maria Botsaris with shots. Alli Manning checked into the game on the Rockets’ eighth corner kick, and after the ball bounced between players in front of the net, it was Manning who scored to put Needham up 2-1 with 20:27 left to play.

Kalaw added the final goal — her sixth of the season — with about five minutes left in the game to make the final 3-1 Rockets. Since their tie against Braintree on Oct. 6, Needham has won five straight games. They have only given up three goals at home.

The Rockets will be on the road for four out of their final five regular season games, starting at Milton on Thursday, Oct. 22. They will return home for their senior night on Thursday, Oct. 29, at Memorial Field.