Sports 11-06-2014

Undefeated Vikings best

Hamilton-Wenham 26-6

By Jim Lederman

The Winthrop Vikings opened their “second season” handing the Hamilton-Wenham “Generals” a 26-6 defeat at Miller Field. The Vikings will play host to the Triton Vikings (6-2) Friday night 7pm in the Semi-final game in Division 4 North.

“The Defensive and Offensive Lines played great” praised Coach Sean Driscoll. We had too many penalties and we have not played our best game of the year” said Coach Driscoll. Triton is the best team we have played this year. They have a great quarterback Justin Cashman, who makes excellent decisions. Our linebackers Tyler Gillis, Alex Anzuoni, Chris Beaudry and Matt Feeley have to step up for us to advance to the final game. I will look to our captains and senior leadership in this big game” said Coach Driscoll.

The Vikings won the coin toss and decided to kick off and take the second half kickoff. Jake Chiudina kicked off and Matt Feeley recovered the fumble on the kick-off at the 33-yard line. The Vikings drove 67-yards to score the first touchdown. Dylan Driscoll connected with Zach Deeb and Jordan Atkins and Jake picked up valuable yardage before Jordan scored from one yard out. The extra point by Chiudina 7-0 Vikings. The touchdown was at 8:27.

Jordan (playing his best game of the year) intercepted a “Generals” pass at the H-W 42-yard line. A 40-yard run by Dylan Driscoll gave the Vikings a first and goal at the H-W 2-yard line. Chiudina plowed up the middle for the touchdown and a Winthrop 13-0 lead.

The Vikings defense led by linebacker co-captain Tyler Gillis, shutdown James Littlefield, H-W halfback (735 yards and 8 touchdowns) Linebacker Alex Anzuoni

(2 key sacks) and Matt Feeley, controlled the first half.

The Vikings next offensive series produced another touchdown. The Vikings started at the H-W 47-yard line. Jordan Atkins had a scintillating 25-yard run to the 16-yard line. Reise Turransky swept around the left end to the one yard line. Dylan scored the touchdown and the Vikings had a 19-0 first half advantage.

Alex Anzuoni intercepted a H-W aerial to give the Vikings another series. Turransky raced 55-yards and 25-yards, after a Vikings 15-yard penalty. Dylan connected with Zach Deeb for a 11-yard touchdown. Jake split the uprights and the Vikings led 26-0.

Hamilton-Wenham scored their only touchdown late in the final quarter on a Tom Rostad 6-yard touchdown pass to Nolan Wilson.  Dylan Driscoll (5 for 11, 54 yards and one touchdown) rushed for 65 yards. Reise Turransky had a monster game 13 carries for 104 yards. “Reise continues to make the big plays when we need them” said Coach Driscoll. Zach Deeb had 3 catches for 36 yeards. Nick Moulaison and Turransky caught one pass each.

Skimming The Sidelines

Hats off to Mark Wallace and Paul O’Donnell for their excellent work on the playing field at Miller Field the Hamilton-Wenham game. The game will be on Viking TV-Channel 15 this week. Al Petrilli and “The Voice” returned to broadcast the game. We will do all the playoff games and the Thanksgiving Game with Revere  thanks to Mike Mahoney and Spencer Bosse. For the production, half time guests included John Macero, Senator Anthony Petrucelli and Speaker of the House, Bob Deleo.

Congratulations to Poli Tsiotos and Mackenzie Chiudina on their selection to the Northeast Conference Soccer All-Star team. Poli was named first team goalie.

WHS SPORTS ROUNDUP

Lady Vikings roll in opener; face St. Mary’s of Lynn today

The Winthrop High girls soccer team stormed into the Division 4 North Sectional of the MIAA girls soccer tourney with a resounding 8-0 victory at Mt. Alvernia Monday afternoon.

The Lady Vikings entered the tourney as the 16th and final seed in the D-4 North with a 7-9-2 record, while Mt. Alvernia came in as the top seed with a 14-2 mark.

However, as Viking fans know well by now, regular season records mean nothing come tourney time. Winthrop plays in the predominantly D-2 and D-3 Northeastern Conference, while Mt. Alvernia competes in the smaller Catholic Conference. That difference in the level of competitiveness experienced by the two teams became apparent from the outset of their match Monday, as the Lady Vikings took control from the opening kickoff. Senior Regina Garufo reached the back of the net three times and teammates Flora English and Amy Sena potted a pair of goals apiece. Keeper Poli Tsiotis earned the shutout in net.

WHS head coach Tracey Martucci and her crew now will advance to the quarterfinal round against St. Mary’s of Lynn, the bete noire of the Winthrop High athletic program in recent years on both the boys’ and girls’ sides.

St. Mary’s is the eighth seed in the D-2 North with a 10-6-2 regular season record and is coming off a 9-1 victory over Marian of Framingham in its tourney opener. St. Mary’s eliminated Winthrop two years ago in the tourney, 2-0. The teams shared a common opponent this season in Saugus, with St. Mary’s winning 3-0 in their only meeting, while Winthrop defeated Saugus in their encounter in the last game of the regular season, 3-1.

Kick-off time at Manning Field is 5:00.

Two Lady Vikings were named to the NEC all-star team. Keeper Tsiotis earned first team All-Conference honors and Mackenzie Chiudina was named to the second team.

WHS volleyball team wins tourney opener

The Winthrop High volleyball team, which qualified for the post-season state tourney in only its second year as a varsity program, defeated Essex Tech 3-1 last week in a first-round encounter. The Lady Vikings, who entered the Division 3 North tourney as the 10th seed with an 8-8 record, engaged Essex, the seventh seed with a 12-7 mark, in a fierce struggle in which the first two games were decided by the narrowest of margins, 25-23 and 28-26. Essex took the third game, 25-16, but the Lady Vikings reasserted control in the fourth game, 25-16, to claim the victory.

Junior Nina Bartlette, who was named to the first team of the Northeastern Conference all-star team as a middle blocker, was a force for Winthrop with 10 kills, 11 service aces, and six digs. Sophomore Haley Holden, who was named to the second team all-NEC squad, also was immense up front with eight kills and four blocks. Sophomore Allie Love likewise was a power at the net with seven kills and 10 digs. Freshman setter Lacey Scott, who also earned second-team NEC all star honors this season, contributed 26 assists and 12 digs.

Sophomore Maddie Faingaa and senior Abbie Love added nine digs apiece. Junior Meg Dolan served four aces and senior Vanessa Dale served five aces.

“It doesn’t get any better than this,” said WHS head coach Christy Scott after the victory. “Just qualifying for the tourney was a big accomplishment, but winning our first match ever in the post-season was amazing.”

The triumph earned the Lady Vikings a contest in the quarterfinals of the D-3 North against second-seeded Mystic Valley this past Monday. The Winthrop girls battled hard, winning the second set 25-16 after dropping the first one, 25-17. However, the more-experienced MV squad prevailed in the next two games, 25-18 and 25-13, to claim the match.

“Mystic Valley had a lot of seniors and it was apparent they’ve been playing together for a long time,” said Scott. “Their experience paid off. We’re not quite there yet.”

Bartlette smacked nine kills, while Faingaa served five aces and made nine digs.

Still, Scott and her crew will have a lot of memorable moments to carry them through the next nine months until the start of the 2015 season next August. “I’m so proud of this team and what they accomplished,” said Scott. “I feel truly honored to have coached these girls and been a part of this phenomenal season with them.”

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