Sports 10-05-2017

WHS sports roundup

WHS girls soccer qualifies for tourney

The Winthrop High girls soccer team qualified for the post-season state tournament with a 5-0 victory over Excel Academy this past Friday in a contest played on the Lady Vikings’ home field.

Excel is a Division 4 school, and the triumph assures the Lady Vikings of a .500 record against D-4 schools on their schedule, thus qualifying Winthrop for the MIAA D-4 state tourney.

Senior Francesca Capone scored two goals, with assists going to Maura Dorr and Sofie LaFratta. Dorr and LaFratta also reached the back of the Excel net, as did Isabel Skomro. Senior captain Gaby Hinchion assisted on all three of those markers.

This past Tuesday, the Lady Vikings dropped a 5-0 decision to an undefeated Saugus squad.

“Saugus has a ton of talent this year and we just couldn’t keep pace,” said WHS head coach Stacey Martucci.

On a bright note for the WHS program, the Lady Viking junior varsity squad edged their Saugus counterparts, 6-5.

Martucci and her crew, who now stand at 3-5 on the season, host Lynn Classical tomorrow (Friday) afternoon. They will trek to Lynn English on the holiday on Monday and then make the short trip to Revere next Thursday.

 

Viking runners spli tri-meet 

The Winthrop High boys cross-country team hosted Swampscott and Gloucester this past Monday on the Vikings’ home course on Deer Island.  The Vikings topped Gloucester, 16-28,  for its first win of the season, but fell to Swampscott, 20-38.

An individual performance highlight for the Vikings was turned in by their number one runner, Cormac McPhail, who set a new personal record (PR), which also broke his own WHS course record.

Cormac blazed across the island course in a clocking of 14:14, shaving 20 seconds off his previous school mark, an effort that earned him first-place laurels for the day among all competitors.

Winthrop eighth-graders Will Lawton and Ari Hain also turned in strong races with PR performances. Will came across the line in 16:34, two minutes faster than his previous best time, and Ari finished in 16:37, in a similarly-faster-than-ever fashion.

Viking Michael Angelo turned in a fine effort with a clocking of 19:35.

On the girls’ side, the Lady Vikings fell both to Gloucester, 24-32, and to Swampscott, 20-34. The girls were led by Camilla Miranda Llovera in a PR time of 17:26. “Camilla is really having a fantastic season,” said WHS has coach Warren MacPhail.

Also turning in a fine race was Caroline Zuffanti, who inched closer to breaking 20 minutes on her home course with a clocking of 20:11. Ashley Miles proved last week was no fluke, as she turned in a PR by four minutes with a run of 20:24. Emma Turner came back from an injured back and ran a PR  by two minutes in 20:44.

Other Lady Viking runners included Zara Powell, who ran a strong race of 21:13; Kim McDuffee, who had a PR of 25:26; Liz McDuffee and Grace Carlton, who finished in 27:14; and Mary Teixiera, who crossed the line in 25:34.

“Cormac and Camila keep pushing forward in practice and it seems to be rubbing off on the rest of the team,” noted MacPhail of his top runners, who recently were both named the WHS Student/Athletes of the Month. “It was a fantastic PR kind of day, with almost the whole team running PRs.”

The race also marked Senior Day for the members of the Class of 2018, for whom this was their last home meet. Kim McDuffee, Liz McDuffee, Grace Carlton, and Ashley Miles were all given flowers and welcomed by their parents at the finish line.

 

Vikings boys soccer drops pair of contests

The Winthrop High boys soccer team came up on the short end of its two contests this past week, falling to Gloucester, 5-1, and to Saugus, 4-1.

In the match with Gloucester last week, the Vikings trailed 3-0 at the end of the first half and never were able to get back into it. The visiting Fishermen added two more markers after the intermission before Viking sophomore Kevin Dorr netted his first career varsity goal after receiving a pass at the top of the box from freshman Gabe Pardinho, for whom the assist marked his first career varsity-point.

“We were able to create some chances, but couldn’t find the back of the net,” said WHS heads coach Kyle Gagin. “Once Gloucester settled the ball down, they were able to finish their chances.

“As much as it wasn’t the greatest game for us, a lot of our freshmen and sophomores were able to get into the game,” added Gagin, “Freshmen James Silva and Cam Conway made their varsity debuts. Knowing this is a rebuilding year, it’s great to see younger guys scoring and doing well against a team like Gloucester.”

In the loss to Saugus on Monday, the Viking tally was netted by Jaylin Cordes, who chipped the ball over the keeper as he was coming out to defend against the oncoming Cordes, who had been set up nicely by junior international exchange student Fabricio, who split the defense with a great through ball.

“The Saugus loss was a tough one,” saids Gagin. “We started off a little shaky, then started to calm down and play nicely. We started to generate chances, but couldn’t find the net.”

Saugus took a 2-0 advantage into the half and added two more after the intermission before Cordes found the range.

Gagin and his crew have a busy week ahead. They were set to play at New Mission yesterday (Wednesday) and will host Everett today (Thursday). They will entertain New Mission Saturday afternoon in a make-up game and then play at Malden on Monday and return home to face Salem Wednesday.

New Mission is one of Winthrop’s two Division 4 opponents this season. If the Vikings can attain a .500 record against D-4 teams, they will qualify for the post-season state tourney.

 

Vikings fall to unbeaten Lynnfield

By Jim Lederman

The Winthrop High football team fell to an undefeated Lynnfield team, 47-6, in a non-league contest on the Pioneers’ home field.

Quarterback Jake Adamson scored on a one-yard run on Winthrop’s opening possession to make it a 7-6 game. However, the powerful Pioneers responded with touchdowns on their next five possessions to open up a 40-6 advantage at the half.

Driscoll praised Adamson for his leadership. “Jake was injured and would not leave the field,” said Driscoll. “Our six seniors are playing hard and we will continue to improve as we seek our first victory of the campaign.”

Skimming the Sidelines

The Vikings travel to Salem Friday for a 7 p.m. game. The Witches are 3-1 under coach Matt Bouchard. Salem has defeated Austin prep, Essex Tech, and Saugus.

Winthrop defeated Salem 14-0, in the 2016 meeting during a rainstorm.

The Vikings rushed for 115 yards versus Lynnfield. Senior Tyler Chiudina was the leading rusher with 42 yards on 6 carries. Junior Feedle Small had nine carries for 41 yards. Jaidon Brown (2 carries, 21 yards) Breet Sheehan (one carry, 5 yards), Jake Adamson, freshman Austin Daigneault, and Tyler Rockefeller played well for the Vikings. Adamson had a pass completion to Brett Sheehan.

Revere (0-4) hosts Medford Friday night. Malden (0-4) will play Marblehead (4-0). Lynn Classical (4-0) has a big game against Danvers (4-0). Saugus hosts Gloucester Saturday at 1 p.m. at Stackpole Field.

Let The Games Begin!

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