Sports 10-19-2017

WHS sports roundup

WHS golf team qualifies for states

The Winthrop High golf team has qualified for the state tourney. WHS head coach John Cross will send his top six golfers to the tournament, which will be held in Boxford. They are: Colby Dassau, Andrew DiMento, Evan Smotrich, Jack Sicurella, Dan McCreedy, and Mike Gillis.

“Colby and Andrew also will be representing the team at this year’s NEC Open in Denham,” said Cross, who also noted the fine play this season of Smotrich, who is a fine. “Evan is a freshman who had a great year winning most of his matches,” added the coach.

 

Banner week for WHS girls soccer

The Winthrop High girls soccer team enjoyed a fine week, earning two wins and a tie in its matches against Northeastern Conference opponents.

A 1-1 tie with Revere last Thursday proved to be a frustrating contest. Francesca Capone reached the back of the Revere net for the Lady Viking goal, but despite Winthrop outshooting Revere by a wide 20-3 margin, the Lady Vikings were unable to break the deadlock,

However, coach Stacey Martucci’s crew had no such difficulty in their contest with Salem the following day, as the Lady Vikings avenged a previous 6-0 defeat to the Lady Witches and posted an 8-1 triumph.

Winthrop grabbed a 3-0 lead in the first 15 minutes.

“Playing on a grass field for our home games is a huge advantage to us, seeing as most fields we play on are turf,” said Martucci, whose squad expanded its lead to 5-1 before the end of the half.

Capone scored a hat trick with assists from Sofie LaFratta, freshman Maura Dorr, and Jillian Johnson. Winthrop also received goals from Alex Gibbons, assisted by Dorr, and Dorr, who was assisted by Capone.

“Francesca and Maura are neck-and-neck for points for the season,” noted Martucci. “They are a senior/freshman duo who work so well together and just know where the other is on the field.”

In the second half, the Vikings continued their offensive onslaught, with goals from Isabel Skomro, assisted by Dorr; senior captain Gabby Hinchion, who notched her first goal from just inside half field; and senior Micaela Grimes, who also scored her first goal.

“The team just played so well together and it was a huge win for us,” said Martucci.

The Lady Vikings defeated Everett on Monday, 2-0. Goals for the Lady Vikings came from Alex Gibbons, assisted by Emma Carleton, and Dorr, unassisted.

“Senior captain Jillian Kfoury played an amazing game,” said Martucci. “She shut down one of their top players. Micaela Grimes had a phenomenal game as well.”

Martucci and her crew, who stand at 7-5-1 on the season, were set to host Malden today (Thursday). They will make the long trek to Gloucester on Monday; entertain  Saugus on Wednesday that will be a Breast Cancer Awareness fundraiser; and then travel to Lynn Classical next Friday.

 

Volleyball team defeats Malden

 

The Winthrop High volleyball team defeated Malden in straight sets, 25-17, 25-16, and 25-22, this past week.

Leading the way for the Lady Vikings on the offensive front were Fatma Tufa with seven kills and Kelsey Griffiths with four kills. Lacey Scott served nine aces and set 22 assists for her teammates. Adela Hoxha also had a nice serving day with four aces.

In the defensive categories, Steph Strangie made nine digs and received 13 serves. Scott added four digs and Deanna Pucillo made three. Carolyn Kinsella received seven enemy serves.

The Winthrop squad has a busy week ahead. They were set to play Salem yesterday (Wednesday) and will host Beverly tomorrow (Friday). They will travel to Danvers Tuesday and to Saugus next Thursday.

 

Tough week for WHS boys soccer

 

The Winthrop High boys soccer team dropped all three of its contests this past week, falling to Salem (4-0), Lynn Classical (3-0), and Lynn English (4-1). Brazilian exchange student Fabricio Berlatto, who was away for the first two encounters, scored the lone goal in the three-game stretch.

“Unfortunately we weren’t able to create many chances without Fabricio,” noted WHS head coach Kyle Gagin. “In the second half of the game with Classical we were able to create some stuff, with Jaylin Cordes and Steve Tracy testing their keeper a bit.

“We defended pretty well for the most part throughout the entire game and we were able to force Classical into taking tough shots,” added Gagin. “The only difference was that they were able to finish theirs and we couldn’t finish ours. Junior goalie Corey Cherico played well again for us.”

The Vikings returned to Manning Field for the contest with Lynn English on Tuesday. “We didn’t play well in the first half, but we switched some things up and started creating more and more chances,” said Gagin.

Berlatto was back and hit the post 15 minutes into the second half. A few minutes later, Winthrop was awarded a penalty kick when a Viking was taken down in the box  and Fabricio scored with an impressive delivery of the PK.

Winthrop continued to apply offensive pressure, placing more shots on goal as sophomore Kevin Dorr was able to test the keeper. Cordes also had two great chances, with one shot just going over the net and another hitting the post.

Gagin and his crew make the long trek to Gloucester today (Thursday) and will host Lynn Classical tomorrow (Friday). They will entertain Saugus on Monday.

 

MacPhail wins again for boys cross country;girls’ win skein ends

 

Cormac MacPhail ran away from the field Tuesday at Medford to win his fourth straight meet for the Winthrop High boys cross country team, while on the girls side, the Lady Vikings fell just short in their quest for a fourth consecutive victory.

For the Winthrop girls,  Camila Miranda-Llovera finished second (17:53) on the 2.55 mile Medford course, but it wasn’t enough for a team victory, as the Lady Vikings dropped a 24-32 decision.

Caroline Zuffanti continued her terrific running, placing seventh overall in 19:36. Ashley Miles ran a close eighth in 19:45 and Kat Thano placed 11th in 21:02.

Liz McDuffee placed 12th in  22:01, Kim McDuffee took 13th in  22:20, Rawan Aldweid placed 19th in  24:24, and Mary Teixeira came home in 20th spot in 24:25.

In the previous week, the Lady Vikings defeated Somerville in a closely-contested battle, 25-29, in which Miranda-Llovera finished first overall.

On the boys’ side, MacPhail, who has won four of Winthrop’s six races this year, placed first in 14:58 and appears ready to gear up for the league and state races in the next two weeks.

Will Lawton, who continues to improve every week, placed 11th overall in 16:24.

Ari Hain placed 12th (16:35) and Michelango Marcoccio rounded out the team”s placement with a 20th place finish (18:30). The final tally showing the boys falling to Medford, 20-36.

Last week MaPhail gutted out a last, 50-yard dash to outsprint the Somerville runner to secure a moral victory, but the team fell to Somerville, 24-34.

Both the boys and girls teams will be preparing for the Conference meet and States in the next few weeks.

Sachems defeat Vikings under the lights

By: Jim Lederman

The Saugus Sachems exploded for four second quarter touchdowns en route to a 40-13 victory over the Winthrop Vikings. The victory for Saugus was their first of the season. The Vikings fell to (0-6).

The Vikings travel to Manning Field in Lynn on Saturday afternoon (2:30 p.m.) to battle the undefeated Lynn English Bulldogs (6-0).

The star of the game for Saugus was quarterback Mike Mabee, who completed 13 of 26 pass attempts and threw four touchdown passes.

Saugus scored one touchdown in the first quarter. Mabee tossed a 10-yard pass to Christian Correia for a 7-0 first quarter lead.

Marvens Jean raced 84-yards for a 13-0 Sachem lead. Junior Feedle Small answered with a 30-yard run to cut the Saugus lead to 13-6.  The rush for the two-point conversion failed.

Correia added a 16-yard touchdown to give Saugus a 19-6 lead. Quarterback Jake Adamson connected with Jaidon Brown for a 11-yard touchdown. Calvin Tufa split the uprights for the extra point. The Sachems added two more touchdowns to increase the score to (33-13) at halftime. A 4-yard pass from Mabee to Mike McGrane and a 19-yard touchdown pass from Mabee to Ricky Martinez.

The Sachems added the only score in the second half; A. McGrane had a 28-yard run in the third quarter.

The victory for Saugus was the first for first year head coach Anthony Nalen.

The Vikings had 54-yards rushing and 82-yards passing. Jake Adamson was 7 for 13, 82-yards – one interception. Matt Love was 4 for 55-yards to lead the receivers. Bobby Hubert caught two for 16-yards and Jaidon Brown had the 11-yard touchdown pass from Jake Adamson.

The Vikings had eight freshmen play on Friday night Bobby Hubert, Tyler Rockefeller, Chris Ferrara, and Ryan Hovermale. Austin Daigneault, Bryan Concicao, Steve Perullo and Michael Carter.

The Vikings have six seniors, seven juniors, eight sophomores and 19 freshmen on the varsity.

Let the Games Begin!

 

 

From the Press Box

Young Giants

By: Jim Lederman

For decades, it was an accepted practice: High school freshman simply did not play varsity football.

How could 14- and 15-year-olds compare to their bigger, faster, stronger and older gridiron counter parts? How could they be expected to pick up the nuances of the varsity game at such a young age? How could they be reliably counted on in a sport where leadership and experience is so prevalent?

Over the years, only a chosen few were deemed good enough to contribute. Anthony Palmer, Bobby Kneeland and Michael Palmer were three freshman to play for the Vikings.

Freshmen are not only playing varsity football for the Vikings, but they are also filling valuable roles for the Winthrop Vikings in 2017.

Eight freshmen are playing for the Vikings this year. There are 19 freshmen on the varsity team.

Bobby Hubert, Tyler Rockefeller, Chris Ferrara, Bryan Concicao, Steve Perullo, Ryan Hovermale, Austin Daigneault and Michael Carter are gaining experience and confidence for the Vikings in 2017.

The future looks bright for the Vikings and with a sparkling new turf field at Miller field, the Vikings will have a winning program.

 

 

Skimming the Sidelines

The Vikings will travel to Manning Field on Saturday for a 2:30 kickoff with the undefeated Lynn English Bulldogs.

Lynn English defeated Salem to run their undefeated record to (6-0). The victory for coach Chris Carroll’s team clinches a tie for the NEC South title. A victory over Winthrop would give the Bulldogs the outright title. English has been the biggest surprise in North Shore football circles. English won only two games in 2016.

The Vikings lost a (27-25) overtime victory over the Bulldogs. Quarterback Matt Severance, only a junior has a trio of fleet-footed receivers.

Salem and Lynn English collided for the 89th time with the host Bulldogs having won the last seven meetings still; the Witch city boys hold a comfortable 45-33-11 all-time series advantage.

Marblehead (6-0) defeated Gloucester (23-12) in the 98th all-time meeting at Piper Field in Marblehead. The Magicians hold a 51-40-5 all-time series lead. Marblehead has won six straight, including a victory in last years playoff, after they dropped 16 straight to the Fishermen between 1992-2007. Marblehead has won four straight NEC titles.

Danvers defeated Beverly a (24-21) at Hurd Stadium in Beverly on Saturday. Beverly holds a commanding 56-23-2 leading their gridiron history.

Swampscott shut out the Revere Patriots (27-0) at Harry Della Russo Stadium in Revere on Friday night. The Patriots fell to (1-5) and the Big Blue improved to (5-1). Revere plays host to Somerville at HDR on Friday night.

The Highlanders upset Lynn Classical (34-16) at Dilboy Stadium in Somerville. Classical and Somerville sit at (3-1) a victory over Revere for Somerville will give them the NEC Central title.

Swampscott travels to Saugus for a noon kickoff on Saturday. The Big Blue have a (5-1) record and a (2-1) NEC South record.

The biggest game on the North Shore is the Friday night battle between two undefeated teams – (In the NEC) Marblehead and Danvers. The game will be played in Marblehead. The winner captures the NEC North title. I like Marblehead playing at home.

The Boston Globe top twenty has Marblehead at number ten. Lynn English (6-0) is number 19 and Lynn Classical is number 20.

In Cape Ann Baker Division, Lynnfield (6-) and Hamilton-Wenham (6-0) play at Lynnfield on Friday night. The winner captures the title. Jim Pugh, the former Masconomet coach is coach of the Generals.

Salem (4-2) plays Lynn Classical (5-1) at Manning Field in Lynn on Friday night.

Let the Games Begin!

 

 

Two in a Row

The sub varsity (sophomores and freshman) defeated Saugus (8-7) on Saturday afternoon at Stackpole Field in Saugus.

The victory was their second in a row after a (26-14) victory over Salem at Bertram Field in Salem.

Quarterback Austin Daigneault scored the touchdown and Tyler Rockefeller rushed for the 2-point conversion.

The defense anchored by captain R.J. Dalton had many defensive standouts. The backfield had Daigneault at quarterback, halfbacks Chris Ferrara and Bobby Hubert and fullback Tyler Rockefeller.

Key plays on the defense were made by Steve Perullo, Bryan Concicao, Tyler Rockefeller and Ryan Hovermale.

Congrats to t he young Vikings!

Let the Games Begin!

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