Northampton girls soccer's depth scoring carries undefeated team past Ludlow

LUDLOW — The Northampton girls soccer team tallied a 3-0 shutout victory over Ludlow on Monday, with goals from unexpected scorers. Senior captain Olivia Busone netted her first goal of the season to break a scoreless tie in the second half, while freshman Isla Claps scored twice to lead the Blue Devils to their second win over Ludlow this season.

The offensive depth proved decisive against a Ludlow team that focused its defense on Northampton's typical go-to scorers. Head coach Vanessa Butynski said the variety in scoring options makes the team harder to defend. "If you have one it's pretty easy to defend," Butynski said. "We have a very experienced team and we have a lot of options that can put the ball in the back of the net."

Northampton struggled early as Ludlow packed the box to cut off passes through the middle. After halftime, Butynski moved Busone from her midfield position to the front line to change the team's approach. "That infectious work rate that she has kind of shifted to the entire team and that ripple effect caused everyone to step up," Butynski said.

Thirteen minutes into the second half, senior Willow Claps crossed from the left side, and Busone tapped the ball into the back corner. "She's a very strong player," Busone said of Claps. "So I was like, 'get ready for the ball and be ready to shoot,' because I knew she would pass it and cross it to us."

Busone had scored more than twenty goals during her freshman year before moving to defensive midfield this season to address a team need. "It's great because I get to help my team in a different way," she said. "But I got to go back to what I used to do for a second."

With less than twenty minutes remaining, Isla Claps worked inside the box and scored twice in quick succession. A Ludlow defender deflected her first attempt back to her, and she finished the rebound low into the corner. Moments later, she fired from the right side with minimal angle and found the top left corner of the net. "I just took that shot. I didn't really know what was going to happen," Isla Claps said. "I sort of just went for it."

Isla Claps received a waiver to play on Northampton's junior varsity team as an eighth grader last season, giving her rare experience for a freshman. Her older sister, Willow, has been a four-year starter for the Blue Devils. "I'm so happy I can be on a team with all these girls," Isla Claps said. "With my sister being a senior, it's always special to have that sister bond with her here."

Northampton is 8-0-1. Busone is among the seniors who have been on the varsity team since 2023, and the group has advanced further into the playoffs each year, reaching the state quarterfinals last season. Before this year, the seniors set a goal to go deeper into the postseason. "It's my last year," Busone said. "This year we're going to go further and we're going to win."