Great week for WHS boys soccer
The Winthrop High boys soccer team turned in what head coach Phil Ronan termed “probably the best week in the history of the program” with a trio of shutout victories over Northeastern Conference rivals Salem (2-0), Peabody (3-0), and Saugus (4-0).
Coming on the heels of the previous week’s shutout against Glocuester, the Vikings have rung up goose-eggs on four consecutive opponents.
“I don’t believe that Winthrop probably has ever had back-to-back shutouts,” noted Ronan, who added that he changed the Vikings’ defensive system after the Danvers game two weeks ago to four in the back with junior Kai Faber at sweeper.
Noah Bayersdofer and Samuel Serna scored the Vikings’ goals vs Salem. In the Peabody contest, Fabiano Alcala Rodrigues reached the back of the Tanners’ net twice and Kerim Kurdo did so once. In the Saugus win, Bayersdofer and Sammi Nastassi both scored two goals.
Goalkeeper Jackson Faber now has posted five clean sheets on the season, a program record.
Ronan and his crew are scheduled to travel to Stoneham tomorrow (Friday) and to Masconomet next Monday before returning home to host Swampscott next Friday.
WHS boys outrun Saugus
The Winthrop High boys cross country team broke into the victory column with a triumph over Saugus in a tri-meet with Salem last Wednesday at Salem’s Winter Island course.
Leading the way for the Vikings was freshman Owen Harty, who finished in second place with a time of 19:46. Owen was followed by senior Liam Kenney (5th in 20:20), senior captain Liam Natareno (7th in 20:53), freshman Matteo Agri (9th in 21:15), sophomore Sean Mgloin (14th in 21:53), junior Evan Tallent (19th in 23:05), and freshman Joseph Spinale (28th in 28:57).
On the girls’ side, senior captain Bailey Ferguson ran a superb race to finish in first place with a clocking of 23:14.
“We had two great finishes from Owen Harty and Bailey Ferguson this week,” said WHS head coach Eric Ferguson. “We look to continue building momentum as we head into the second half of our season.”
Ferguson and his crew were scheduled to host Danvers this past Tuesday and Swampscott next Wednesday on the Vikings’ home course at Deer Island.
WHS volleyball team fighting fiercely
Although the Winthrop volleyball team came up short in its matches this past week, head coach Jeremy Wein was pleased with his team’s determination.
“We got rocked by Masco earlier in the week,” said Wein. “We then competed with Salem, but still came away with another loss.
“However, in our Saturday game vs. Stoneham, we had a scare with Sofia Gonzalez going down for a couple of sets,” Wein said. “We ended up losing in five, but we got to see how important each one of the players on and off the court are to each other.
“Gia Cerasani got some run, along with Emma Sguerri. Bree Rizzoto continues to show up and play defense every match,” Wein continued. “Helena Gajica is proving to be an incredible all-around volleyball player, along with Sofia Gonzalez and Kylie McFarland. Makayla Herdt has been a muscle in the back row.
“And then we have our leader in our captain, Ana Gajica,” Wein added. “She continues to be a wall up front and serves as our energy generator.
“The kids are going hard. Some things are starting to click and some skills we still have to continue developing,” said Wein. “We will continue to do what Winthrop people do and fight until the very end because that’s what we need to do.”
The Lady Vikings are scheduled to host Beverly today (Thursday) and will travel to Triton tomorrow (Friday).
Winthrop High girls soccer improving
Although the wins have been hard to come by for the WHS girls soccer team this season, coach Tracey Martucci has been encouraged by her team’s improving performances as the season has progressed.
“Even though our record (1-9) on paper doesn’t look great, it doesn’t reflect the hard work and drive the girls have during each game. They don’t give up or back down no matter what the score. So that overrides any wins in my book. They are a great group of girls,” said Martucci.
“We are getting better each game,” Martucci continued. “At the beginning of the season we lost to Salem 6-0 and the second time it was 2-0. We played them much tighter in that game.”
In a 6-1 loss to Saugus this past Monday evening, Angela Coscia, assisted by freshman Emily Harkins, scored the Lady Viking goal.
Martucci and her crew were scheduled to play at Lynn Tech (their fifth straight game on the road) yesterday (Wednesday) and will return home to host Masconomet Monday afternoon and Lynn Tech next Wednesday before traveling to nearby Noyes Field in East Boston to meet Excel Academy next Thursday.