Skavlem, Welch Score as Mounties Return to Western Mass Final

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HOLYOKE, Mass. -- John Skavlem and Finn Welch each scored a goal Wednesday as the Mount Greylock boys soccer team beat Hampshire, 2-0, to reach the Western Massachusetts Division 3 Championship game.
 
After a scoreless first half, Skavlem scored the game-winner with an assist from Welch in the 61st minute.
 
Moments later, Welch took a direct kick from 25 yards out and curled it around the wall to beat the Hampshire keeper inside the near post.
 
Oscar Low made six saves to earn the shutout in goal. His biggest stop was a one-handed tip over the bar to deny a deflected shot with three minutes left in the first half.
 
On Saturday, top-seeded Mount Greylock (15-2-1) will face No. 3 Belchertown (10-4-6) at Springfield Central High School for the right to represent Western Mass in the state semi-finals.
 
The Orioles are the defending champions and winners of five of the last eight sectional titles.
 
Mount Greylock's last Western Mass title came in 2008, when it went on to win the state championship.
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