Sports 10-13-2016

WHS sports roundup

WHS volleyball team wins three straight

The Winthrop High volleyball team won all three of its matches this past week to improve to 7-4 on the season.

The last of the trio of victories came Tuesday evening in a non-league contest at Mt. Alvernia in which the Lady Vikings came from behind to post a 3-2 win.

Winthrop won the first set, 25-22, but dropped the next two by simlarly-close scores of 25-22 and 25-23. However, coach Christy Scott’s squad regrouped and won the next set in convincing fashion, 25-17, setting the stage for a dramatic fifth and deciding set.

The Lady Vikings continued their momentum in the race to 15 points and earned a 15-11 win.

Haley Holden powered the Winthrop offense once again, successfully smacking 21-of-50 kill opportunities for a 42 percent kill rate. Holden also turned in a superb service game,  pumping four aces at the Mt. Alvernians and successfully serving 96 percent (24-of-25) of her deliveries. Holden additionally was a force on defense for Winthrop with 19 digs.

Maddie Faigna’a once again was the Lady Vikings’ top defender with 30 digs.

Lacey Scott turned in her usual all-around performance with 19 digs, 28 assists, and five service aces. Deanna Pucillo also delivered five aces in the match.

In a match last Wednesday at Revere, the Lady Vikings earned a hard-fought 3-1 victory, 25-22, 25-22, 18-25, and 25-23. Holden once again was a powerhouse at the net, successfully scoring on 20-of-41 kill opportunities. Haley also tallied five aces.

Scott led the Lady Vikings in both the aces and assists departments (nine and 30), while Faigna’a  recorded 21 digs. Polet Castro also reached double-figures in digs with 10.

In a 3-0 shutout of Beverly in the WHS gym (28-26, 25-17, 25-10), notable highlights included Faigna’a with 23 digs, Holden with 16 digs, and Castro with 10 digs.

The Lady Vikings hit the road for their next their matches, starting today (Thursday) at Lynn English. They trek to Georgetown tomorrow and to Weston Monday before returning home to hat Swampscott Wednesday.

Boys soccer team drops two matches

The Winthrop High boys soccer team dropped both of its matches this past week to Peabody and Mystic Valley.

In a 5-0 loss to Peabody, senior captain and goalkeeper Kevin Barrera turned in what WHS head coach Kyle Gagin termed “a great game. In the first half Barrera made a bunch of great saves. At the end of the first it was 1-0, but then in the second half we had some defensive meltdowns after two beautiful Peabody goals.”

In a contest Monday with Mystic Valley, the Vikings fell by a score of 3-0. Winthrop trailed 1-0 after the first 40 minutes and proved unable to dent the MV net after the intermission.

The match was a crucial one for the Vikings because a win or tie would have secured them a berth in the post-season state tournament. “With this result we are unfortunately out of the playoffs,” noted Gagin. “Although our playoff hopes have ended, we are still playing to be the best team in the WHS boys soccer program history. The most wins is five and we can definitely do that. There is still something to play for and I hope the guys can step up to that challenge.”

The Vikings were set to host Revere yesterday (Wednesday) and will play at Beverly tomorrow (Friday). They will entertain Lynn English Tuesday and make the long bus ride to Gloucester next Thursday.

Vikings fall to Gloucester, 48-6

By Juim Lederman

The Gloucester Fishermen defeated the Winthrop Vikings 48-6 at East Boston’s Stadium last Friday night. The defending NEC South Champions will win their second consecutive title this season. With victories over Salem and Saugus.

The Fishermen scored on their first five offensive drives. Jermaine Edward capped a 10-play, 76-yard drive, with a one-yard carry with two minutes to go in the first quarter.

The Vikings fumbled a snap on the first play of their next drive and the Fishermen recovered at the Vikings 37-yard line. Sophomore Marc Smith recovered the fumble and raced 37-yards on the first play, a double reverse, 14-0 Fishermen to end the first quarter.

Quarterback Nate Young hooked (trait of a good Fishermen) up with Smith again and a (20-0) advantage.

The Vikings responded after a 60-yard run by Jon Gonzalez. Quarterback Chris Zuffante hit Gonzalez with a 4-yard touchdown pass.

(20-6) Gloucester

The game turned into the Christian SanFilippo highlight film. He raced 55-yards to the house for another Gloucester score.

Just before halftime, SanFilippo would score again and the Fishermen held a (34-6) halftime lead.

SanFilippo rushed for 142 yards in the first half. Christian would score the third touchdown of his incredible night. The 5’9-165 lb. senior co-captain finished with 216 yards rushing. H e has 2,220 career yards, second in Gloucester history and Gloucester has six games remaining on their schedule and a couple of playoff games.

Gloucester plays Salem at Bertram Field on Friday night and plays host to a winless (0-5) Saugus squad at Newell Stadium next Friday night.

The Fishermen will finish their NEC South schedule undefeated (5-0) and win their second consecutive title.

Skimming the Sidelines

The Vikings travel to Stackpole Field in Saugus on Saturday – 11 a.m., to battle the Sachems (0-5). Saugus lost a (30-12) decision to Revere (1-4) at Della Russo Stadium in Revere last Friday night.

Saugus plays in division 3 North. The Sachems have lost to Austin Prep (2-3), Manchester-Essex (2-3), Swampscott (3-2) 21-6 and Salem (3-2) 39-20. The Vikings defeated Saugus (40-12) in 2015 at Miller Field.

The Viking do not play any teams in their won Division – 3A Boston Latin, Greater Lawrence, Hamilton-Wenham, Ipswich, Lynnfield, Matignon, Northeast, St. Mary’s, Shausheen, Stoneham, Whittier are the teams in their division. Saugus and Swampscott are in Division 3 North. A victory over both Saugus and Swampscott could propel the Vikings into the MIAA playoffs.

Coach Sean Driscoll will look to the six Viking captains – Zuffante, Gonzalez, Spinazzola, Wasson, Tarantino and Vandalinda to lead the Vikings in to the MIAA playoffs!

Revere won their first game of the 2016 campaign, with a (30-12) victory over Saugus. Victor Rivera rushed for 197 yards and two touchdowns. The Patriots travel to Swampscott for a Friday night game at Blocksidge Field.

The upset of the night was at Bertram Field in Salem. The Witches scored five times on their first five times on their first five possessions. On its way to a convincing (32-13) victory over the Big Blue (1-2, 3-2), the only thing Salem did wrong Friday night was miss four out of five extra points.

The Big Blue has the top passing combo in the NEC. Quarterback Colin Frary has tossed 8 touchdown passes (750 yards). Sean Lahrizi has five touchdown receptions.

The Big Blue invade East Boston stadium next Friday night. The Vikings must improve their pass defense if they hope to capture their fourth consecutive victory over Swampscott.

Extra Points

In the Eastern Mass Power Ratings: Division 2A North 1. Marblehead (5-0) 2. North Reading (4-1) 3. Danvers (4-1) 4. Gloucester (4-1) Division 3A North 1. Shawsheen (5-0) 2. St. Mary’s of Lynn (5-0) Winthrop) 1-4) number nine (the top eight teams qualify for the playoffs.

The Vikings need to win their next two games (Saugus and Swampscott) and hope Ipswich looses one of their next two games (Manchester and Georgetown).

The point system awards teams with points for the teams they defeated with the number of their victories.

In 1982 under the old point system, Coach Bob DeFelice’s team was undefeated (10-0) but did not qualify for the super bowl because teams like Revere only one two games.

Terry Driscoll former Winthrop resident, who was al All-American player at Boston College and a number one NBA draft selection has retired after a 22-year career as athletic director at William and Mary College.

Will the construction of the new Miller Field begin this year? The lighting at East Boston stadium is the worst of any stadium Winthrop plays in! I hope we don’t have to play at East Boston in 2017.

The Viking Jayvees showed great promise in the fourth quarter. The running of freshman Alex Sabunya and sophomore Ryan Buccini, the play of Frosh Billy Hubert and Pat Teixeira are Viking future standouts.

Ex-Viking standout Jimmy Baxter and Matt Love coach the Jayvees.

Viking Notebook

Gonzales carried 8 times for 82 yards. Jon has rushed (56 for 396) at 7-point average. Zuffante has passed for 260 yards in five games. In the Gloucester game Zuf was (6 for 11 – 82 yards). Matt Tarantino had six tackles vs. the Fishermen and leads the team in total tackles.

A victory over Saugus and Swampscott will give the Vikings 12 points respectively and a shot at the playoffs.

See you at Stackpole Field!

Let the Games Begin!

From The Press Box

On second thought

By: Jim Lederman

Coco Crisp wins a World Series ring in 2007 – returns to Fenway to beat the Red Sox.

Clay Buchholz and Josh Tomlin – teammates at Angelina College in Texas. Tomlin out duels Buchholz to advance to championship.

Andrew Benintendi – the next Sox ‘superstar’

Patriots on a mission of validation and retribution.

Can Tom Brady win the MVP playing only 12 games?

Brady returned from football Alcatraz.

Sox lose home field advantage like the Patriots to the Denver Broncos.

Where was Eduardo Rodriguez?

Good to have the greatest quarterback of all time back.

Why can’t we get players like Jon Lester and Andrew Miller?

Terry Francona out coaches John Farrell.

Baseball Awards: Who will win the MVP awards?

Who will win the CY Young Awards?

Who will be the AL Manager of the Year?

Dustin Pedroia should win a “Gold Glove”

Will Theo Epstein (Chicago Cubs President) lead the Cubs to another World Championship?

Chris Hogan plays like Julius Edelman?

The Pats play Cincy, Pittsburgh and Buffalo the next three weeks.

Two Boston legends – Number 34 Big Papa and Paul Pierce retire this year.

The Four B’s – Betts, Boegarts, Bradley and Benitendi – the future is bright.

The Sox lost eight of their last nine games.

Terry Francona got his revenge on the men who fired him five years ago, managing the overwhelming underdog Cleveland Indians to a three-game sweep of our beloved Sox. David Ortiz goes into the books (541 career home runs) as a probable Hall of Famer.

Four months of football – Go Pats!

Let the Games Begin!

WHS SPORTS Years

10 years ago

October 12, 2006

The undefeated WHS football team had little trouble disposing of a short-handed Lynn English football team with a thorough thrashing by a score of 54-0. Coach Tony Fucillo’s Vikings now stand at 5-0 and have won their games by an average score of 42-7. Winthrop forced English to commit seven turnovers in the first half alone as the Vikings built a 42-0 lead at the intermission. WHS head coach Tony Fucillo used all of his reserves in the second half. Matt Murray ran for 125 yards in the first two quarters, including a 35 yard TD scamper in which he broke at least three tackles. Jason Griffin ran for 65 yards and a TD on just four carries. Quarterback James Fucillo tossed for two TDs of 14 yards to Griffin and 19 yards to Vin Eruzione. Sophomore linebacker Stephen Keough ran back an interception for 40 yards and a TD.

The WHS girls soccer team defeated Mt. Alvernia and Lynn Classical this week. In the win over Classical, Alyssa Martel, Amber Miller, and freshman Jen Fucillo scored the goals for coach Kevin Connolly’s Lady Vikings. In the Mt. Alvernia contest, Julie Dowson scored two goals. Goalkeeper Caterina Mallios also scored a goal (playing the field in the second half), as did Courtney Finn, Miller, and Martel.

The boys soccer team tied Northeast Vocational School, 2-2. Mike Hastings and Eugen Kaplani, who notched his sixth penalty kick of the season, scored for Winthrop.

The WHS Hall of Fame will induct its Class of 2006 on October 21 at the Elks Hall. Inductees include Dan Brugman, a member of the 1976 hockey state hockey team who was a captain of the Yale hockey team; John Domenico, 1945 winner of the Bentley Swift Award and WHS baseball coach; Michael Mason, Class of 1993, who was a star baseball pitcher and football quarterback who set a record for TD passes at Bentley College; James Nimblett, Class of 1960, who was a member of the 1960 state champion basketball team and long-time JV hoop coach; long-time youth sports advocate Larry Larsen, for whom the town skating rink is named; legendary former WHS girls basketball and softball coach Ron Spinney, Class of 1961; basketball star and Class C high jump champ Arnie Springer, Class of 1959, who played at Brandeis;  softball and basketball star Maureen Matsumoto, Class of 1979, who played at the Univ. of New Mexico; baseball star Larry Thomas, 1988 grad who pitched for the Chicago White Sox; and Elizabeth Doherty, Class of 1993, the all-time leading scorer in WHS basketball history.

20 years ago

October 17, 1996

 

The Winthrop High football team thrashed Beverly, 35-15, behind an incredible performance by senior Michael Palmer, who scored three touchdowns, kicked three extra points, gained more than 200 all-purpose yards, intercepted a pass, and made 10 tackles. Running mate Joey Murray scored two TDs on runs of 90 and two yards and gained 180 yards on the ground.

The WHS golf team qualified for the state tourney with a victory over Lynn Classical. Pat Lally, Paul O’Brien, Ron Meryman, Steve Merola, and George Barker all won their matches against their Ram opponents.

The WHS boys cross country team defeated Marblehead, 27-30, in a tri-meet with Danvers. Tony Ferrara was the top Viking runner with a time of 15:24. He was followed by Ryan Tuttle in 15:45, Ricky O’Brien in 16:06, Tommy Walker in 18:05, and Jamie Taylor. The Vikings now are 3-5 on the season.

 

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