MILTON – It has been a very long road back for Milton’s Sahana Zauls.

But when the junior was called upon Thursday, the girls soccer star made her moment count, sniping a pair of goals to deliver the sixth-seeded Wildcats their first playoff win since 2017 with a 4-1 victory over No. 27 Marshfield.

“This team has worked so hard,” said Zauls. “Everybody on the team has been putting in so much effort. During practices, during games, we’ve all tried our best. So it’s really good to see it pay off.”

Things did not start off so well for Milton (6-6-7), as the school found itself in a defensive battle with the Rams to open play. In the 31st minute, Marshfield (9-9-3) capitalized, as a free kick by senior Rowan Malvey skipped off a Wildcats defender into the net to make it a 1-0 contest. Suddenly, Milton was on its heels in a nail-biter.

“I think we were a little disappointed,” said Milton coach Kevin Gorham. “We played a little slower than how we normally play in the first half. It wasn’t a true reflection of our team as a whole, and our season and how we performed. So I think with the big crowd that was here tonight, I think we felt a little bad. We knew we could come out and do a better job in the second half.”

Zauls missed all of last season and the majority of the 2025 campaign with a torn meniscus and an MCL injury. The junior came back late in the year, and helped her team clinch a high seed in the Div. 2 field.

Just moments into the second half, she struck. The junior buried a shot, knotting the score at 1-all in the 47th minute.

Shortly thereafter, the Wildcats were awarded a corner kick in the 58th minute. Freshman Natalie Gallagher collected the ball, then potted a shot as Milton leaped ahead, 2-1.

“I have a lot of faith in Natalie Gallagher,” said Gorham. “As a freshman, she’s been starting pretty much all season long. She’s played multiple roles, multiple roles within our different formations. She’s done really well for us this year.”

From that moment on, the Wildcats controlled the tempo. The referees even stopped the clock at one point in the 72nd minute, adding four more for good measure.

It didn’t matter. Seconds later, Milton was awarded a penalty kick attempt as Marshfield goaltender Talia Scardina attempted to make a game-saving save during a breakaway bid with a sliding dive.

After battling an ACL injury herself in recent weeks, senior Noelle Gorham stepped in, and sniped a shot to ice things as Milton seized a 3-1 lead.

In the 78th minute, Zauls put the cherry on top by putting home her second goal, and the Wildcats were bound for the Round of 16.

Milton will face No. 11 King Philip next.

“I think this was probably our hardest game,” Noelle Gorham said. “I think we can do it (from here on out).”