WHS sports roundup
WHS girls defeat Somerville, 38-26
The Winthrop High girls basketball team added another impressive victory over a Northeastern Conference rival with a 38-26 triumph at Somerville this past Friday.
Both teams got off to a slow start, no doubt showing the effects of the break during the Christmas vacation.
“We were getting good looks, but we just couldn’t get them to fall,” noted WHS head coach Rick Pulsifer of his team’s offensive frustrations in the opening period after which Winthrop led, 9-5.
Strong defense continued to be the main theme for both squads in the second period, with the Lady Vikings holding a 17-14 advantage at the half.
The third quarter continued with more of the same, with the Lady Vikings outscoring their Lady Highlander counterparts, 7-6, to hold a 24-20 advantage at the third buzzer.
However, the Winthrop offense finally came alive in the final eight minutes, as the Lady Vikings struck for 14 points, while limiting Somerville to just six points, to come away with the 38-26 victory.
Caroline Earl and Maura Dorr paced Winthrop in the scoring department. Both girls hit for double figures, with Caroline striking for 12 points and Maura adding 10. Lily Pulsifer made a nice contribution with seven points.
“I thought both teams struggled today on both sides of the ball,” said Pulsifer. “It was a short week of practice coming from vacation for the girls, but they dug in, never quit, and did what it took to beat a very physical Somerville team”
The junior varsity Lady Vikings also showed some rust in a 29-17 loss to their Lady Highlander counterparts. Winthrop trailed 6-0 after the first quarter and 16-4 at the half.
The junior Lady Vikings picked up the pace after the intermission, but were unable to get back into the game.
The Lady Vikings were scheduled to play at Salem this past Tuesday and will host Danvers on Friday. Ti-off for both games is 5:30 p.m. for the JV and 7 p.m. for the varsity.
WHS boys hockey edges Marblehead, 3-2
Luke Evangelista scored the hat trick to lead the Winthrop High boys hockey team to a pulsating 3-2 victory over Marblehead Saturday afternoon at Larsen Rink.
The Magicians had come into the contest sporting an undefeated, 7-0 record, but the Vikings emerged triumphant before the enthusiastic hometown crowd thanks to Evangelista’s three goals and the goaltending of senior Ryan Skoczylas, who was superb in the net.
The victory came on the heels of a 2-0 triumph last Wednesday over another Northeastern Conference North Division rival, Medford, and left the Vikings as the only undefeated team in the NEC North.
However, the Vikings’ status in that regard ended Tuesday evening with a 4-1 loss to Danvers at Endicott College’s Bourque Arena. Winthrop trailed 3-0 before senior Sam Yarrow lit the lamp late in the second period, but that would prove as close as the Vikings would get on the night.
Coach Dale Dunbar’s squad, which now is 3-1 in the NEC North and 6-3 overall, will host Beverly at Larsen on Saturday at 3 p.m. and will entertain non-league foe Bishop Fenwick next Thursday at 6:10 p.m.
Girls track edges Saugus, 45-40
The Winthrop High girls indoor track & field team defeated Saugus, 45-40, this past Thursday.
Five Lady Vikings won their individual events: Marykate Pote with a shot put toss of 28′-9″; Daniella Zanelli led a sweep in the hurdles with a time of 8.7; Soneida Dahlquist in the 600 dash in 2:02; Brianna Marley in the mile in 6:34.5; and Camilla Miranda-Llovera in the two-mile in 13:01.
Second-place finishers for the Lady Vikings who added three points to their team’s cause were: Sydney Crotty with a high jump of 4′-2″ and in the hurdles in 9.4; Nora McCarey in the 300 dash in 51.1; Devon Barry in the 1,000 in 4:15.4; and Amyra Silva in the two-mile in 15:02.
Third-place finishers for Winthrop were: Clare Nargi in the hurdles in 9.4; Gianna Knapp in the 50 dash in 7.8; Katerina Thano in the 600 in 2:14.1; and Ella McCarey in the 1,000 in 4:15.8.
Nargi and Olivia Brandi-Miles also split a point with a third in the high jump with their leaps of 4′-2″.
The Lady Vikings were scheduled to face Swampscott yesterday (Wednesday) and to meet Salem this Tuesday.
Lady Vikings split two games this week
The Winthrop High girls hockey team had an up and down week, defeating non-league opponent Watertown, 3-0, last Wednesday, but then dropping a 2-1 decision to Northeastern Hockey League rival Masconomet Regional Saturday afternoon.
The loss to Masco was a setback the Lady Vikings, who stand at 6-2 overall, but 3-2 in the NHL.
Winthrop started the game in strong fashion, carrying the play and outshooting Masco, 10-5. However, the Lady Vikings were unable to put the puck past Masco’s all-league goalie, Mollie Elmore (who is committed to Sacred Heart University), and the teams skated off into their locker rooms deadlocked at 0-0 at the first horn.
Winthrop grabbed a 1-0 lead in the middle stanza on a nice goal by Emma Carleton, assisted by Olivia Holmes. However, Masco struck back with the equalizer with 2:15 left in the period and then grabbed the lead with another goal with just 11.6 seconds to go in the period.
“That second goal killed us, and we never really recovered,†said WHS head coach Anthony Martucci.
Winthrop continued to control play in the final 15 minutes, but could not find the equalizer.
“We had our chances and could not bury them,” noted Martucci. “It was a really tough loss.”
Martucci had words of praise for his goalie, Summer Tallent. “Summer went head- to-head with Molly Elmore and pretty much matched her in every single way,” Martucci said. “The second goal they got was our defense getting caught with a Masco player behind them, and then being unable to clear the front of the net after Summer made the first save. She has done a fantastic job for us this season. We could not ask for a better player in our net. She has been awesome in every single game.”
Martucci also lauded the play of eighth grade center, Mia Norris.
“Mia played incredibly in this game,” said the coach. “She has been awesome on face-offs all season so far, and her d-zone play is great. She is starting to get her offense going too, and in this game she was going well. Mia can flat-out fly, she has jump. When her skating game is there, she is very dangerous.â€
Martucci and his crew have a pair of non-league encounters on tap this week. The Lady Vikings were set to host Haverhill last night (Wednesday) and will entertain Longmeadow on Saturday at 1:00. NHL rival Medford comes to Larsen Rink next Wednesday evening for a 6:10 face-off.
WHS boys track edged by Saugus
The Winthrop High boys track team came out on the short end of a 44-42 decision to Saugus last week.
Four Vikings won their individual events: Cam Martin took the hurdles in a time of 8.7 seconds; Pat Haskell captured the 600 in 1:40.9; Cormac MacPhail won the 1000 in 3:00.4; and Michelangelo Marcoccio took the two-mile in 13:08
Earning three points for the Vikings with second-place performances were: Julian Osorio with a high jump of 5′-2″; Billy Hubert with a shot put toss of 33′-4″; Bobby Hubert in the 50 dash in 6.3; and Ryan Kfoury in the 300 dash in 42.6.
Adding single points to the Viking cause with third-place efforts were: Mike Morano in the shot put with a throw of 33′-3″; Mark Amatucci in the hurdles in 9.1; Mark Goudge in the 600 in :49.8; Ryan Cash in the mile in 6:19.1; and Andrei Opincaru in the two-mile in 16:15.
The Winthrop 4 x 400 relay team defeated their Saugus counterparts by four seconds with a clocking of 4:09.
WHS boys basketball plays well vs. Somerville
Although the Winthrop High boys basketball team came out on the short end of a 61-53 decision to Somerville Friday evening at the WHS gym, WHS head coach Dave Sacoo was pleased with his team’s performance.
“It was the best we’ve looked to-date against a very tough Somerville team,” said Sacco. “We stress being able to put 32 minutes together and other than a two- minute stretch to end the half and the first minute of the fourth quarter, I thought we did that tonight.â€
The Vikings were in the game until the very end, drawing within four points with under a minute to play. However, Winthrop was unable to take advantage of an opportunity at the free throw line, enabling the visiting Highlanders to maintain their advantage down the stretch.
WHS senior Chrono Washington turned in a fine offensive performance with 14 points and seven assists. Sophomore Cam Conway struck for 14 points and junior Bryan Rodriguez reached double figures with 10 points.
The Vikings traveled to Maimonides on Sunday, but never were able to overcome a 23 point deficit in the first half and dropped a 59-45 decision.
“We did not come ready to play a very good Maimonides team and could not overcome a sluggish first half,” noted Sacco. “I told my guys before the game they were going to be gunning for us. Two years ago we knocked them out of the tournament and last year we beat them pretty well both times we played them. I knew walking into the gym that Maimonides was going to be ready for us and we did not match their intensity in the first half.”
The Vikings were led by Conway with 15 points and Washington with 13 points.
Sacco and his crew took on Salem this past Tuesday and will travel to Danvers Friday. They will host Maimonides in a rematch next Tuesday evening at 7:00.