WHS Sports Roundup

Fast Start to Season for WHS Girls Soccer

The Winthrop High girls soccer team opened its Fall II season with a trifecta of convincing victories.

The Vikings engaged with KIPP Academy in a home-and-home series last week and came away with a parlay of 7-0 victories.

In the first triumph against KIPP at Manning Field in Lynn, Winthrop moved out to a 3-0 lead in the first half. Senior captain Grace Galuris reached the back of the KIPP net twice, assisted by sophomore Emma Holmes and junior Brianna Marley. Emma H. also scored a goal, assisted by Mia Martucci.

Martucci made it 4-0, assisted by Emma Holmes, to start the second half. Maddie Stiglets (assisted by Julia Holmes), Ava Martello (assisted by Kaylee Farrell, and Julia Marcoccio (unassisted) completed the scoring for the Vikings.

Miya Grein and Summer Tallent shared the goalkeeping duties, playing a half apiece to earn the shutout.

In the rematch at Miller Field, Grace Arena and Martucci gave Winthrop a quick 2-0 lead with unassisted goals. Galuris, assisted by Martucci, made it 3-0, and Farrell and Emma Holmes added two more markers before the end of the half.

Captain Maura Dorr, the all-time Winthrop girls’ goal-scorer who was returning from an injury, made it 6-0 to start the second half. Freshman Hannah Parker provided the assist. Nora McCarey applied the coup de grace for the 7-0 finale.

Winthrop hosted Northeast Regional this past Tuesday in a contest that was rescheduled from Monday because of the cold. Despite the lingering chill on Miller Field, the Vikings continued their torrid play, cruising to a 6-0 triumph.

After a tight first half in which Winthrop held a 1-0 lead at the ref’s whistle, the Vikings poured in five unanswered goals.

“These are three strong wins to start the season,” said WHS coach Tracey Martucci.

The Winthrop girls were  scheduled to take on Northeast yesterday (Wednesday) in a rematch on the Golden Knights’ home field. The Vikings then will encounter Lynn Tech next Monday and Wednesday, the latter contest scheduled at Miller Field at 4:00. 

Level Week for WHS Boys Soccer

The Winthrop boys soccer team opened its Fall II season with a level week, earning a win, a tie, and loss in its first three contests.

In the season-opener last Monday at Miller Field against KIPP Academy, the Vikings claimed a 2-1 victory with both goals coming from the foot of sophomore Anan Cherki. The first goal was assisted by junior Juan Guauque and the second by junior Ryan Kfoury.

“Our junior center backs, Zane Bower and JD Parker, had a great game and kept everyone composed,” said WHS head coach Kyle Gagin.

Senior goalkeeper Augie Cherico, who is sharing the captaincy duties for the 2021 Vikings with fellow senior John Langone, earned the win in net.

Two days later at Manning Field, the Vikings overcame a 2-0 deficit to earn a 2-2 deadlock with the KIPPsters. 

The Vikings got one back before the end of the first half, with junior Juan Guauque reaching the back of the KIPP net, assisted by sophomore Esteban Alvarez. 

Winthrop brought the contest back to level early in the second half when junior Chad Bernstein sent a long ball into the box and it deflected off a KIPP defender for the goal. 

“Although KIPP controlled the first 20 minutes of the game, nobody gave up,” noted Gagin. “It was a really hard-fought game and we did well to come back after being down 2-0.”

This past Tuesday the Vikings came up on the short end of a 3-0 decision at Northeast. The Golden Knights scored two goals in the first half and then added a third with about 10 minutes  to go.

“We had our chances but couldn’t finish them,” said Gagin. “Unfortunately, all three goals came on mental lapses throughout the game. Juniors Ryan Kfoury and Bernstein played well.

“We have a lot of returning guys this year, including seniors Chris Nunes and Youssef Benchiki, and a couple of new faces on the team,” Gagin added. “Cherki, sophomore Loert Mana, and freshman Thomas Navarro have made an instant impact with the team.”

The Vikings were scheduled to host Northeast in a rematch yesterday (Wednesday) at Miller Field and then will take on Lynn Tech in back-to-back encounters next Monday (home at 4:00) and Wednesday (away).

Volleyball Team Tops Salem, 3-0

The Winthrop High volleyball team turned in a solid performance to defeat Salem in straight games, 25-19, 25-19, and 27-25, this past Tuesday.

Winthrop overcame a 16-0 deficit in the third game, but battled back to win the set in extra points, 27-25, to claim the match.

“In the third set we got off to a tough start, but our team didn’t give up,” said WHS co-coach Rachel DelSolio. “They were able to work together to adjust and battled back to win the set. It was an unbelievable comeback.

“We had great serving from Carolyn Kinsella, Elle English, Jess Soares, and Megan Gouge,” DelSolio added. “We also had great defensive play by Caroline Earl with both blocks and digs.

“Katie Gagnon was our leader in hits, having a few kills throughout the match, and Adyana Barbarisi had one kill as well,” DelSolio continued. “Newcomer Evan Bernstein stepped in as a starter and made some good defensive plays that helped us in some big plays.”

The Wnthrop girls are set to play at Swampscott today Thursday) and will host Saugus next Tuesday. They then will trek to Masconomet next Thursday.