WHS Football Team Hosts Salem Friday
The Winthrop High football team will host Salem tomorrow (Friday) evening in another edition of Friday Night Lights at Miller Field.
The opening kick-off is set for 7 p.m.
The outcome of the contest has possible MIAA state playoff implications for the Vikings, who still have an outside shot at qualifying for the Division 6 North sectional if they can grab a win. Winthrop presently stands in the 10th spot in the MIAA power rankings in the D-6 North, but should move up with a victory on Friday. The top eight teams in each divisional sectional qualify for the post-season.
Winthrop will be heavily-favored to prevail over the winless Witches. The teams have played three opponents in common this season, most notably Saugus, whom Winthrop easily handled, 23-6, but to whom Salem dropped a 36-18 decision this past week.
Another common foe is Lynn Classical. The Rams ran past Salem, 48-8, whereas the Vikings came up short by a score of 20-10 in their encounter with Classical last Friday at Manning Field.
The loss was yet another case of “almost” for Winthrop. The Vikings, who were playing without the services of their starting quarterback and leading offensive performer, junior Bobby Hubert (who was sidelined with a concussion), held a 10-8 lead with five minutes left in the game.
However, Classical scored two TDs, including one with 32 seconds left in the contest, to claim the victory on a rainy and windy Manning Field.
Sophomore Mike Chaves turned in a creditable performance in Hubert’s place, leading the Vikings on a long drive to start the second half, and then scoring the TD himself from two yards out. Viking running back Rick Rosado added the two-point conversion to bring the score back to level at 8-8.
Winthrop then grabbed the lead when Bryan Conceicao dropped the Classical quarterback in the Rams’ end zone for a safety.
“Bryan turned in an amazing game for us,” said WHS head coach Jon Cadigan of the junior, who received the weekly Black Shirt award, emblematic of the team’s top defensive performance. “He made a number of big tackles all game, in addition to the safety, and contributed on offense. He’s become a real leader on our team by the example he sets for everyone else with his hustle and determination.”
Although the many narrow defeats this season have been frustrating for Cadigan and his crew, they are looking forward to a strong second half of the 2019 campaign.
“Overall, we have been playing well,” said the coach, “but it has not translated into victories. We’re looking to turn the corner starting with Salem and hopefully we’ll be able to qualify for the playoffs.”
Boys Soccer Takes Step Toward Tourney
The Winthrop High boys soccer team took a big step toward qualifying for the MIAA post-season state tourney with a 3-0 victory over Matignon last Friday evening at Miller Field.
After battling to a nil-nil deadlock through the first half, the Vikings erupted for three goals after the intermission.
Junior Marco Torghele scored two goals, with assists from freshman Esteban Alvarez. Sophomore Ryan Khoury reached the back of the Matignon net on a cross from junior John Langone.
“We outplayed them the whole second half and didn’t allow a shot. It was an impressive performance,” said WHS head coach Kyle Gagin. “The goals by Marco and Ryan were their first career goals.”
Gavin and his crew have two more contests with opponents in their division and need only a tie in order to punch their ticket for a Journey to the Tourney.
They will play one of those games, at Arlington Catholic, on Saturday and will trek to Salem on Monday. They will return home to host Saugus Wednesday evening at 7:00 at Miller Field.
Lady Vikings Qualify for State Tourney
The Winthrop High girls soccer team qualified for the upcoming, post-season state tournament with a 3-1 victory over Matignon last Friday evening.
Junior Maura Dorr and senior Isabel Skomro reached the back of the Matignon net to give the Lady Vikings a 2-0 lead in the first half.
Matignon struck for a goal after the intermission, but Winthrop responded when sophomore Mia Martucci scored an insurance goal for the 3-1 finale.
Coach Tracey Martucci and her crew will travel to Charlestown today (Thursday) and will host Salem next Monday under the lights at Miller Field at 6 p.m. They will journey to Saugus next Wednesday.
Volleyball Team Defeats Saugus
The Winthrop High volleyball team earned a 3-0 shutout victory over Saugus this past Tuesday, a win that will improve the Vikings’ seeding for the upcoming state tournament.
Co-coaches Lauren Kostegan and Rachel DelSolio received strong defensive play from senior captain Vita Begoli and senior Arlette Ordonez. Junior captains Caroline Earl and Carolyn Kinsella led the team in serving. Sophomore Elle English had some strong blocks, while the offense was led by the hard hitting of juniors Katie Gagnon and Lily Dias.
Last Thursday the Vikings took on a Lynn Classical squad that is in first place in the Northeastern Conference and sports a 12-2 record. Winthrop extended the Rams to a fifth set before falling 15-10 in the fifth and deciding set.
“We battled with them throughout the whole match,” said DelSolio. “We came back to win the second and fourth sets, which allowed us to go all the way to five sets with them.
“The team never gave up,” DelSolio added. “Even when we were down, we continued to give it our all and work together. Unfortunately, we fell short with a 15-10 loss, but our coaching staff was impressed by the passion and effort our girls put forth against a top opponent.”
Winthrop will play at Northeast Regional today (Thursday) and will trek to Salem on Monday.
They will host Lynn English next Wednesday in a match that will be highlighted by Senior Night festivities.