WHS sports roundup
WHS boys soccer
team wins pair
The Winthrop High boys soccer team broke into the win column in a big way with a pair of victories this past week over Northeastern Conference rivals Salem and Saugus.
In the contest at Salem last Thursday, the Vikings made the long trek north a worthwhile one with a 3-2 triumph.
Winthrop got on the board first after sophomore midfielder Kim Haddar sent a through ball into senior winger Dave Barry. Barry took a great touch and was able to score a beautiful top corner curler on which the keeper didn’t even move.
Haddar sent Barry for another through ball later in the half on which Dave beat a Salem defender with his speed to make it 2-0.
Salem was able to score shortly before the half ended thanks to a bad pass in the midfield and then brought matters to level at 2-2 shortly after the intermission. However, with about 25 minutes to play, Viking senior captain Carlos Mendoza scored off a corner kick with a back heel. The Winthrop defense and senior keeper and captain Kevin Barrera held the fort until the ref’s final whistles to preserve the victory.
“We were a lot better with 50/50 balls, which had been a problem in the first few games,” said WHS head coach Kyle Gagin. “It was also great to see how we fought back and responded after losing a two goal lead.”
Winthrop hosted Saugus Monday and rolled to a 7-0 rout. The Vikings grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first half thanks to a pair of goals by sophomore striker Jaylin Cordes. Jaylin’s first goal came after he pounced on a loose ball in the box and his second came off a great volley which dropped into the top corner.
“Although we were up, we didn’t possess as well as I wanted the team to do,” said Gagin. “Our communication was bad, too. But in the second half we played better. When we started to possess more, that’s when the goals started to roll in.”
Junior midfielder Mike Lane was able to score on a 25 yard strike to the bottom corner. A few minutes later, senior captain and center back Carlos Mendoza notched his third goal of the season off a free kick. Sophomore striker Renols “Olsi” Cahani reached the back of the Saugus net after beating a few defenders and his second goal came a few minutes later after he was first to a bouncing ball in the box.
Winthrop’s seventh goal came after the Vikings had possessed the ball for a bit and sophomore Tony Nargi, who was making his varsity debut, scored on a perfectly-placed through ball from sophomore Asa Baurle. Freshman Joe Mahoney and sophomores Luke Evangelista, Andy Angulo, and Jack Silva, all made their varsity debut in the big win.
“It was great to see us finishing better, but there is a lot more to work on in terms of possession and that was somewhat disappointing against Saugus,” noted Gagin. “Communication and winning 50/50s need to improve, too. It was great to see five goals come from sophomores.
Another positive note was to see the debut of five players, because they are the future of the program.”
The Vikings were set to entertain Lynn Classical yesterday (Wednesday) and Danvers tomorrow (Friday). They will travel to Peabody next Thursday.
Injuries piling up
for WHS girls soccer
With four starters out of the lineup because of injuries, the Winthrop High girls soccer team was at a big disadvantage in its contests this week against Saugus and Salem.
“Injuries are really hurting us,” said WHS head coach Tracey Martucci. “This past week we had four starters out of the line up and we have yet to have a full, healthy team on the field.”
In their contest with Salem Monday, the Lady Vikings grabbed a 2-1 lead early in the first half on goals by Heidy Benson and Abby Carleton. However, Salem scored two markers before the end of the half to take a 3-2 advantage at the intermission. The Witches added two more markers in the second 40 minutes in which two major injuries befell the Lady Vikings that shifted the momentum to Salem en route to the 5-2 final score.
In a 6-1 loss to Saugus last week, Benson was the lone Lady Viking to reach the back of the Saugus net.”We’re 0-7, but through it all the girls are working hard and walking off the fields with their heads held high no matter what the outcome,” said Martucci, who lauded the play of freshman Alex Gibbons, “who is getting better and better each game,” and Benson, who has three goals on the season “and is running the middle of the field for us.”
Martucci and her crew were set to play at Lynn Classical yesterday (Wednesday) and at Danvers Friday. They then are off until next Thursday when they will host Peabody.
WHS volleyball team
makes it four straight
After dropping their first two contests of the season, the Winthrop High volleyball team has reeled off four straight victories, including a pair of 3-0 runaway shutouts of Saugus and Lynn Classical last week.
The Saugus contest never was in doubt, as coach Christy Scott’s crew swept to a convincing win in three sets, 25-10, 25-14 and 25-4.
Haley Holden was the primary offensive force for the Lady Vikings with five kills and 15 service aces.
Haley also was a powerhouse both offensively and defensively in Winthrop’s next win over Lynn Classical, 25-10, 25-15, and 25-19. Holden smacked 16 kills at her Lady Ram opponents and also accounted for 17 digs.
Maddie Fanga’a served seven aces and made 13 digs, while Lacey Scott served nine aces, hustled for 13 digs, and set 28 assists. Gina Chalmers also had a nice night with five kills.
The Lady Vikings took on Danvers this past Tuesday and will host Peabody today (Thursday). They will play at Revere Wednesday.
Golfers drop close
match with Saugus
The Winthrop High golf team dropped a close 39-33 decision to Saugus Tuesday on the latter’s home course at Cedar Glen.
Nathan Rich, playing at No. 6, was the big winner for the Vikings, defeating his Saugus opponent by a wide margin of 7.5-1.5.
Colby Dassau, playing at No. 3, also was a winner with a 5-4 triumph.
Alex Pesiri at No. 5 halved his match to place 4.5 points onto the Winthrop scorecard. Richard Fucillo at No. 8 was a nice contributor with four points.
In a match last week against Swampcott, Pesiri was the lone Viking winner, 5.5-4.5, at No. 6. Viking captain Jack Wallace, playing at No. 1, halved his match.
In a contest four days later against Marblehead at the Winthrop Golf Club, Jack shot an even-par 35 to defeat his Marblehead counterpart, 6-3. Dassau at No. 3 also was a winner for Winthrop, defeating his Magician foe 5-4.
Coach Peter Lyons and his crew were scheduled to meet Revere yesterday (Wednesday) and play at Salem today (Thursday). They are off until next Thursday when they host Gloucester.
WHS girls defeat English,
boys are edged by a point
The Winthrop High boys and girls cross country teams both had fantastic races against Lynn English Wednesday, with the girls coming out on top, 25-31, and the boys losing by a single point, 28-29.
Lady Viking Camila Miranda Llovera ran down to the wire in a photo finish to grab second by inches in a time of 19:40. Caroline Zuffante ran her best race of the year, finishing third in 20:13, and fab freshman Fiona MacPhail placed fourth with her best time of the year, 20:16. Zara Powell ( 22:19) and Trinity Rist (22:52) closed out the win by both placing in the top 10.
On the boys’ side, the Vikings lost a proverbial barn-burner by a single point, but gained much respect in the outcome. Nick Beshire won the race outright by inching closer to the school course record, 14:16.
“Nick is running a Marathon in New Hampshire this weekend and we wish him the best of luck,” said WHS head coach Warren MacPhail.
Cormac MacPhail ran a gutsy race by clinging to a tight second spot (14:48). Jacob Hain continues to be heart and soul of the team, placing fifth overall and giving his team a chance for victory. Patrick Haskell (16:30) and Michelangelo Marcoccio (18:02) rounded out Winthrop’s top five finishers.
Bryce Costin, Steven Holgersen, and Henry Brooks all ran their first races of the season and look to become strong contributors in the coming next weeks.
Both the boys and girls have a bye week until they take on Gloucester October 11.
Vikings fall to Lynn
English in overtime, 27-25
By Jim Lederman
The Winthrop Vikings lost a heartbreaking 27-25 decision to Lynn English in overtime Friday night at a rain-soaked Manning Field.
Sophomore quarterback Matt Severance hooked up with Jake Miller on an 8-yard touchdown in overtime. Severance added the two-point conversion on a QB keeper.
Vikings QB Chris Zuffante matched the Bulldogs’ touchdown in overtime. Zuffante rushed for a 2-yard touchdown, his third of the game, but the Bulldogs’ defense stopped Zuffante on his potential game-tying two-point.
“I like the way our team competed,†said Winthrop coach Sean Driscoll. “We gave up some big plays on defense. It’s disappointing to lose, but we competed better than we did in the last two weeks. I think we will get some momentum for our first league game at Salem.â€
The teams were tied at 19-19 when the Vikings marched to the Lynn English 7-yard line with eight seconds left in the game. A huge stop by the English defense pushed the Vikings back to the 14-yard line.
In a steady downpour, Calvin Tufa attempted the game-winning field goal but the ball hit the left upright and the teams headed to overtime.
Jon Gonzales, the Vikings’ talented running back, raced 74 yards for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage.
Linebacker Matt Tarantino intercepted an English pass to set up Zuffante’s TD run to give 19-13 lead. English scored with six seconds left in the second quarter to tie the game.
The score remained deadlocked until overtime when English eked out the victory over the improving Vikings who played inspired football in challenging weather conditions.
From The Press Box
“Tech Tourney Champions”
By Jim Lederman
The Tech Tournament was founded in 1926 by Henry McCarthy Sr. This was Massachusetts’s first postseason basketball tournament.
Henry served as athletic director and basketball coach at MIT. He was inducted in to the Winthrop High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998. His son, Henry McCarthy, coached Winthrop High basketball for 23 years.
The 1963 Winthrop High hoop team captured the Class B state championship in the Boston Garden. The team finished with a 21-1 record. Coached by John P. Sheehan and led by captains Len Riley and Bob Krute, the 1963 squad will be inducted in to the WHS Athletic Hall of Fame on Oct. 22.
After 16 tries at the Tech Tourney Class B title, this WHS team captured the title on March 9, 1963 at the legendary Boston Garden.
The final 71-59 victory over Framingham was relatively easy compared to the semifinal game with Natick. The Vikings trailed Natick by seven points with two minutes to play.
Chuck Mullane hit a jump shot at the buzzer to give the Vikings a thrilling 73-72 victory. Chuck played at Division 1 Holy Cross and Bob Krute was captain at Clark University.
Henry McCarthy Jr. was a 1948 Winthrop High School graduate. Henry’s Winthrop teams captured five NEC titles. Prior to coming to Winthrop, Henry coached Chelmsford and Stoneham. His teams won 416 games.
The Vikings were a basketball powerhouse on the North Shore for many years. The 1963 state champions are much deserving of induction in to the school’s Hall of Fame.
We salute the champions!