Sports 11-13-2014

Winthrop High teams’ looking to championships

Vikings seek North Title Crown on Friday at Miller Field

By Jim Lederman

The Vikings drove 62-yards with the opening drive after Triton won the coin toss but deferred for the second half kickoff. Dylan Driscoll, displaying the leadership of a MVP candidate, scored the first Viking touchdown from one yard out in the first quarter. Jake Chiudina converted the extra point for a 7-0 Viking lead. The drive was 62-yards long with the Vikings strong running attack.

Reise Turransky sprinted 35-yards down the sidelines at 9:05 of the second quarter to increase the lead to 13-0. Jake split the uprights and the Vikings held a 14-0 half time lead. Chiudina intercepted a Justin Cashmanaerial just before halftime in the Winthrop end zone.

The Vikings defense with Tyler Gillis, Jeff Collignon, JakeChiudina, Matt Feeley and Alex Anzuoni making big plays was a key to the victory.

The defensive stands on fourth down plays was huge. Five times Triton went for it on fourth down and the Vikings dug in to force the Triton Vikings to turn the ball over.

Late in the fourth quarter with 4:21 on the Viking PrideFoundation scoreboard, Winthrop has a fourth and one at their own 25-yard line.With a strong wind that caused 10-yard punts, Coach Driscoll put the ball inthe hands of Number 10- Dylan Driscoll. The Vikings leader picked up the crucial first down just as he has numerous times this season.

The Lynnfield game will be won in “the trenches”. JeffCollignon, Sean Gillis, Brady Magrath, Rolando Recinos, James Griffin, DavidKirby, Matt Feeley, Chris Beaudry and Alex Anzuoni, must play like they did shutting down Peabody. This is another big challenge for a Winthrop team, a trip to a sixth super bowl is within their reach.

SKIMMING THE

SIDELINES

Lynnfield has outscored the opponents 334-33 scoring 37 points per game. The Pioneers captured the Cape Ann Small Division with a 5-0 record Hamilton-Wenham finished second with a 4-1 record.

The Pioneers opened the season with a 28-7 victory atPentucket. Lynnfield defeated Newburyport 32-0, Amesbury 33-6, Manchester 42-7,Hamilton-Wenham 35-0, Ipswich 41-0, Saugus in the playoffs 42-6 and Swampscott35-7.

Quarterback Dan Sullivan has passed for over 1200 yards andtouchdowns. Cam Rondeau has 700 yards and 8 touchdowns. Jon Knee 7 touchdowns.Eight of Sullivan’s touchdown passes are over 70-yards. Jake Rourke is theleading rusher. Jake ran for 95 yards in the win over Swampscott. Jake has 13touchdowns. Drew McCarthy has rushed for over 500 yards ad scored 7 touchdowns.

The offensive line is big and strong. One tackle hascommitted to play at Boston College. The tight end is Rob Debonis. His Dad Bobplayed for the Vikings and UMass. Bob Debonis is in the WHS Athletic Hall ofFame.

How strong is the Cape Ann League? Lynnfield played onlyCape Ann teams winning their first 8 games.

The Winthrop Vikings held Peabody to 7 points. Peabodyplayed an excellent game at Everett on Friday night. With 2:55 remaining in thegame, Peabody trailed 41-34. The final score was Everett 55-Peabidy 41. TheNortheastern Conference is traditionally strong. There always is an NEC team inthe super bowl. Can the Cape Ann make that statement?

Brooks Tyrell, the explosive Marblehead halfback wasscoreless in the Magician’s 41-6 loss to Tewksbury. Brooks has 144 points . TheNEC scoring record is held by Anthony Palmer 191 points. Tyrell has 2 gamesremaining to break the record.

Chris Tsiotos holds the NEC basketball scoring record 28.5per game in 1973, before the 3-pointer. I believe that record will never bebroken. Two Viking athletes hold scoring records in the conference.

Two weeks until Thanksgiving, can you believe it? Waitingfor the official announcement in the Thanksgiving game with Revere will be heldat Miller Field.

The 2014 WHS Athletic Hall of Fame induction is two weeksaway at the Winthrop Elks. Tickets are available at the office of AttorneyChris Tsiotos, 193 Winthrop Street or (617) 846-9192.

This is a big week in Winthrop Viking sports. The LadyVikings shooting for the Division 4 North Championship game and the undefeatedVikings football team playing at home Friday night vs. Lynnfield. Let’s get outto cheer for these two outstanding teams.

Go Vikings!

Holli Benson nets game-winning goal;

Poli Tsiotos stars in Winthrop soccer net

By Cary Shuman

Tracey Gigliello Martucci scored the second highest number of goals in Winthrop High School history and was All-MASCAC First Team at Salem State.

So when the Winthrop High girls soccer coach says that junior Holli Benson’s goal was “big”, it carries significant weight.

Benson netted her clutch goal at the midpoint of the first period and senior goalkeeper Poli Tsiotos and Company maintained that one-goal lead as Winthrop upset St. Mary’s High School of Lynn, 1-0, in the Division 4 North quarterfinals.

The surging Lady Vikings were set to take the field against Essex Tech in the semifinals Wednesday.

The win over Catholic Central League powerhouse St. Mary’s was sweet for the Winthrop High School athletic program, especially for some of the soccer team’s multi-sport athletes who have seen St. Mary’s derail their tournament hopes on the basketball court and softball field.

Defense was the key to the victory and Poli Tsiotos put on a show in the Vikings’ net, making some dazzling saves to preserve the lead.

“We had to do a lot of defending to keep that lead,” said Martucci. “We had some offensive chances but we couldn’t connect again but our defense again stood tall and strong and we held them off for the game.”

Tsiotos finished with 15 saves, including a gem on a St. Mary’s corner kick with just under two minutes remaining in the game.

“Poli was right on every shot throughout the whole game,” said Martucci. “I can’t say enough about Poli. She’s had a great season. She put in all the extra work during the summer, working with a goalie coach and it’s all paying off. She’s been the backbone of our team all season.”

Martucci also singled out the excellent contributions of NEC All-Star sweeper Mackenzie Chiudina, senior captain Maura Lanza, freshman Gabby Hinchion, and senior stopper Niki Tsiotos, who moved to a new position this year.

“Putting Niki at stopper this year has been one of the greatest moves we did,” said Martucci. “I wished we thought of it before this year. Her strong and aggressive presence back there has been crucial to our success. Being an offensive threat, Niki knows how to move the ball forward.”

Should the Vikings defeat Essex Tech, they would play the winner of the Georgetown-St. Joseph’s Prep game for the North sectional championship

The Winthrop girls varsity soccer team matched up against St. Mary’s last Thursday evening in a rain-soaked battle that saw the Winthrop girls advance with a 1-0 win.