McClelland Miscellanea

December 20, 2016 · 11:13 pm

Strong second half gets Pentucket girls past North Reading 50-35

Pentucket trap

(West Newbury MA) Pentucket had a rousing second half and defeated North Reading, 50-35, in Cape Ann League action on Tuesday night.

These teams shared the league title last year and split their games with each other during the season.

Graduation had put a serious dent into both teams and I was curious to see what they would be like this season.

The defenses on both sides were impressive. There were very few direct routes to the basket.

One of the glaring stats in this game was the high number of turnovers. By my count, each team committed twenty-five of them. The traveling violations by both squads almost reached the epidemic level. But that is what happens when defenses play well.

Taylor Moore (33) and Emily Riley (31) eye one of the many rebounds off of free throws.

The other glaring stat was the free throw shooting. It was atrocious. The Sachems (3-0) missed twenty-three times while the Hornets (2-1) missed ten.

The visitors broke away from a 6-6 tie (2:41 of the first) and had a ten-point lead (22-12) with 2:12 to go in the second quarter. The key to the NR breakaway was made 3’s by Taylor Moore, Victoria Grasso, and Ali Grasso.

Meanwhile, Pentucket struggled to make any kind of shot.

The second half was an entirely different story. Pentucket put in two freshmen (Angelina Yacubacci and Casey Hunt) to start and off the Sachems went. The home team made shots and that allowed their press to get set up. NR did not react well and had eleven of their TO’s in the third quarter alone.

Angelina Yacubacci had nine points in Pentucket’s third quarter

Angelina Yacubacci led the Sachems with nine points and all of them came in the terrific Pentucket third quarter.

Pentucket put a 15-1 run together to get ahead for good, 27-23 with an Alyssa Demeule layup assisted by Bella Doyle at 2:30 of the 3^rd quarter being the final points.

By the end of the 3^rd, the Sachems led, 34-27, and looked to be pulling away for good. Suddenly, however, in two straight possessions in the final quarter, the Hornets (Casey McAuliffe, Lauren Sullivan) drained 3-pointers. Now within a point (34-33) with 6 ½ minutes left, it was once again anyone’s game.

That Pentucket defense that had been good turned to very good over the final 6 ½ minutes. NR was limited to two points by a defense that would not allow penetration. There was plenty of side-to-side stuff going on but getting to the basket ended for North Reading.

In the same final minutes, Pentucket started with nine unanswered points. They had two layups (Liv Cross, Emily Riley) on assists by freshman Casey Hunt. An NR turnover led to a layup (Emily Riley) and then senior Colleen Jameson added a dagger-three to drive the Pentucket lead to ten (43-33) and this game was history.

Sophomore Casey McAuliffe led all scorers with ten points.

Casey Hunt (20) and Ali Grasso (3)

Key matchup, with plenty of future potential, was between freshman point guards Casey Hunt and Ali Grasso.

NR’s 6-5 Jess Lezon is now at Yale. Jess had seventeen points and twenty rebounds in the Hornets win last February at Pentucket.

NR’s Kat Hassapis will be playing soccer at Bentley in the fall of 2017.

John McNamara’s coaching record at Pentucket is now at 217-35. This year’s team is young but the defense is very good. The offense? They have size but taking advantage of it versus NR led to many turnovers. I’m guessing that the foul shooting will become less “foul” as the season goes on.

The biggest surprise for me was the temperature in the gym. What happened to the heat? Anyone who has been there in the past knows how tropical it was. Maybe a window was open?

North Reading was 20-3 last year and reached the D3 North finals. Pentucket was 16-6 and lost in the first round to Triton.

Pentucket box

North Reading box

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Casey Hunt breaks away

Bella Doyle (14) dribbles in traffic

Colleen Jameson made two 3’s for Pentucket

Second half starters for Pentucket

loose ball

Lauren Sullivan drives

Liv Cross (32) makes a layup

Kat Hassapis fouls out

Lauren Sullivan sets to shoot with Alyssa Demeule defending

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Filed under North Reading, Pentucket

Tagged as Ali Grasso, Angelina Yacubacci, Casey Hunt, Casey McAuliffe, Colleen Jameson, Kat Hassapis

December 18, 2016 · 2:04 pm

Hope Community Church Children’s Christmas Pageant

(Newburyport MA) Plenty of excitement today at Hope Community Church as the annual Christmas Pageant was put on.

The front of the church was filled with children recreating the Christmas story in costume and song.

Here are some of the pictures that I collected from the event: (The pictures enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

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Filed under Hope Community Church, Newburyport

Tagged as Hope Community Church Children's Christmas Pageant

December 3, 2016 · 11:01 pm

Everett takes D1 Super Bowl 21-7 over Xaverian

Everett players celebrate with the D1 Super Bowl trophy

Quarterback Jordan McAfee threw for two touchdowns and set up a third touchdown.

(Lynn MA) Everett won the 2016 Division 1 Super Bowl title, 21-7, over two-time defending champion Xaverian on Saturday afternoon at Manning Field in Lynn.

A packed house saw Everett QB Jordan McAfee throw two touchdown passes and set up the other Crimson Tide score with another pass. The UConn commit collected 211 yards in the air.

Stung by a 14-0 deficit at halftime, Xaverian had to get away from its running game and play catchup through the air. A pressuring Everett defense forced Xaverian quarterback Mattison Cronin to scramble numerous times in the second half.

Everett added a third score in the final quarter (3:58) to take a three-touchdown advantage.

The Hawks (10-2) scored late (2:55) on a 43-yard connection from QB Mattison Cronin to Mekhi Henderson.

Xaverian would get the ball back for one last drive but defender Jason Maitre picked off a pass into traffic to seal the deal for the Tide.

Everett grabbed the lead on their first possession. After Marvens Fedna ran for a first down on fourth down, QB McAfee rolled right and tossed a short pass to Mike Sainristil who did the rest covering 38 yards. The 8:54 score was followed by a Gabriel DeSouza extra point.

Mike Sainristil (beyond Xaverian 43) scores the first Everett TD

Xaverian then started on their 30, and with runs and scrambles by QB Mattison Cronin reached the Everett 14. There the drive died as Duane Binns sacked Mattison on 4^th down.

Early in the second quarter Everett set themselves up nicely with a 56-yard pass play from Jordan McAfee to David Zorrilla. To say that David was open is an understatement! Only the speed of two Hawks defenders prevented a touchdown.

The touchdown prevention didn’t last as running back Marvens Fedna went through a hole up the middle for nine untouched yards to the end zone. Another kick by DeSouza had Everett ahead, 14-0, with 8:43 left in the second quarter.

Marvens Fedna (9) goes through a huge hole to score untouched.

Xaverian had been deep in Everett territory in the first quarter with no points to show for it. Late in the second quarter they suffered the same fate. A nice catch by senior Call Flanders had the Hawks at the Everett 13 with over two minutes left. However, the Tide defense tightened and on a crucial 4^th down, defender Carlins Platel prevented Sam Laurent from catching a first-down pass.

So, what might have been a 14-14 tie ended up being a two-touchdown Everett lead at halftime.

The Hawks did very little running in the second half except for Mattison Cronin scrambles.

The Tide used yet another big play to get a third score. After Jordan McAfee converted a 4^th down play with a QB sneak, the Tide went into a very tight formation. With four minutes left in the game you would assume that clock-eating runs were going to happen. Not so! Jordan faked a handoff inside and then floated a pass to the right to a wide-open Theo Zidor. Theo ran thirty-eight yards to the end zone with 3:58 left in the game. Another extra point was added.

Theo Zidor (3) crosses the goal-line with Cooper DeVeau (26) in pursuit. Jalen Iles-Smith (87) signals TD

Mekhi Henderson scored on a 48-yard pass reception

Would have been a good place for Xaverian to mail in the rest of the game but they didn’t. A little over a minute after the Everett TD the Hawks got six as Mekhi Henderson beat defender Clarens Pierre for a 43-yard strike.

Xaverian had one more chance but a desperation pass into the middle of numerous Tide defenders turned into an interception (Jason Maitre) and this game was decided.

Gerell Boyce recovered a fumble caused by a bad handoff between Mattison Cronin and AJ Ryan in the second quarter.

This was the 11^th Super Bowl title for Coach John DiBiaso at Everett. He won another one at Weston.

The Tide was 5-5 last year and had two early losses this season including a 17-14 one versus Xaverian.

Jordan McAfee finishes his four years at Everett with over 4,000 passing yards.

Jason Maitre had a 99-yard kickoff return for Everett in their first meeting with Xaverian.

Devon Piccinin had five touchdowns and rushed for over 200 yards in the Hawks, 34-29 win over Catholic Memorial in the D1 state semifinals.

Scoring:

Everett – Mike Sainristil 38 pass from Jordan McAfee (Gabriel DeSouza kick)

Everett – Marvens Fedna 9 run (DeSouza kick)

Everett – Theo Zidor 37 pass from McAfee (DeSouza kick)

Xaverian – Mekhi Henderson 43 pass from Mattison Cronin (Brian Fallon kick)

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

David Zorrilla (17) off on a huge gain (56 yards) after catching a Jordan McAfee pass in the second quarter.

Brian Abraham (3) waits for Jason Maitre (6)

Marven Fedna leaves the ball in the end zone after going in untouched

Gerell Boyce (56) deflects a pass

Cal Flanders (94) somehow catches this pass with an Everett defender on his back

The ball falls away from intended receiver Samuel Laurent (1) late in the second quarter

Edward Owuor (89) and Duval Paul (55) converge on scrambling Mattison Cronin

Devon Piccinin (33)

Bad exchange puts the ball on the ground and Gerell Boyce (56) will recover the fumble

Ball on the way to a wide-open David Zorrilla

Mike Sainristel follows lineman Helber Bringhenti

Anthony Norcia

Jason Maitre (6) ends Xaverian’s last drive with an interception

Xaverian coach Charlie Stevenson with the Hawks trophy

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Filed under Everett, Xaverian

Tagged as Cal Flanders, Coach Charlie Stevenson, Coach John DiBiaso, David Zorrilla, Devon Piccinin, Jason Maitre, Jordan McAfee, Marvens Fedna, Mattison Cronin, Mike Sainristil

November 23, 2016 · 11:37 pm

Newtown needs 4th quarter rally to get 35-28 win over Masuk

Some of the on-field action during the Masuk/Newtown Turkey Bowl

Mark Hall (1) celebrates his interception that ended the last Masuk chance.

(Newtown CT) I’ll admit that I left the Newtown/Masuk, Thanksgiving Eve football game last year at halftime.

Trust me, I wasn’t alone in 2015 heading home from Masuk as the Panthers trailed 34-0 after twenty-four minutes.

Fast forward to Thanksgiving Eve of 2016. Same matchup, but what a difference!

However, Masuk looked like the 2015 version in the first quarter (down 14-0) but rallied back thereafter to make an exciting game of it before losing 35-28 on a chilly Wednesday night at Blue and Gold Stadium.

Newtown extra point blocked but NOT by diving Jack Roberge

Newtown (10-0) needed two scores in the final five minutes to pull this one out. The final touchdown was essential for the Nighthawks after an extra-point block by Collin Briganti kept the visitors ahead, 28-27.

Masuk (7-3) would have been okay with that one-point lead if they could have moved the ball but they couldn’t. A run that went out of bounds and an incomplete pass stopped the clock twice and saved Newtown’s timeouts. The Hawks took over at the Masuk 38 with 3:14 left trailing by a point.

The home team settled for the Ben Mason power game and were 4^th-and-2 with 1:30 left. Whether it was a hard count by QB Justin Dunn or something else, the Masuk defense jumped offside and Newtown had more downs to work with from the Masuk 9.

Michael Garner (24) in the end zone with his second TD reception of the final quarter

I thought that the Ben Mason power game inside would resume……so, it appeared, did Masuk. The defense got caught inside and junior Michael Garner floated free to the outside. Quarterback Justin Dunn, with terrific blocking all game, rolled right and spotted the wide-open receiver with 1:24 to go and connected for the game winner.

“We were in range to kick a field goal,” said NHS coach Steve George afterwards. “I figured that we had time for one last shot at the end zone. Thankfully it didn’t come down to a field goal try.”

It wasn’t that Masuk hadn’t seen the play before. The Hawks had used the same play, same personnel to get the same result three minutes earlier in the final quarter.

There was still time (1:24) left for Masuk to answer. However, a Matt Hersch pass to Ryan Shaw bounced off the junior and into the hands of defender Mark Hull. Game. Set. Match.

What helped Masuk make a game of it was a Hunter Cobb injury in the second quarter. After Masuk had rallied to tie the score in the second quarter, Hunter went down with a leg injury after a pass reception and never returned to action.

Hunter Cobb (30) sets single-season Newtown mark with 30th TD

Prior to his departure, Hunter had registered both Newtown scores including a special second one that set the single-season Newtown record for touchdowns (30).

Without Hunter, the Newtown offense became more predictable (inside power) but the home-run pass plays in the second half worked as a result. Masuk lost defensive numbers in the secondary in their concern for Newtown’s inside game. The Nighthawk’s quarterback Justin Dunn had excellent protection and his receivers had time to get open.

The Masuk passing attack was surprisingly effective after the first quarter. QB Matt Hersch was on target and he had receivers (Nick Dellapiano, Ryan Shaw, and Michael Zuk) with speed to get deep as well as catching ability.

Matt Hersch (3) registered three TD passes

Matt tossed three TD passes in this game to put him at thirty for the season.

Masuk punter Peter Fox’s attempt to run for a first down backfired in the first quarter.

Ben Mason had five touchdowns versus Masuk in 2015.

QB Justin Dunn scrambled for several first downs.

A Hunter Cobb pick-six in the first half was brought back because of a penalty.

Masuk’s Jack Roberge finds the end zone

Panther Jack Roberge found big yards up the middle on two shuffle passes.

Masuk had the chance to take a 3-point lead on the last play of the first half but Nolan McCarter’s field goal attempt went wide left.

This game had a chilly start but once the back-and-forth action kicked in I hardly noticed it.

“Masuk is a well-coached passing team,” said Coach George. “We expected to play better defense than we did.”

The NHS dance team and cheerleaders were excellent as usual performing at halftime.

Newtown seniors were honored before the game.

Newtown has only lost once in South-West Conference games in five seasons.

Ben Mason powers home a 2-point conversion

Newtown’s Ben Mason is signed on with Michigan while lineman Seth Willis will attend Brigham Young.

Scoring Details:

Newtown 14 0 7 14 = 35

Masuk 0 14 14 0 = 28

N – 69-yard run Hunter Cobb (Ryan Kost kick)

N – 1-yard run Hunter Cobb (Kost kick)

M – 49-yard pass Ryan Shaw from Matt Hersch (Nolan McCarter kick)

M – 9-yard pass Michael Zuk from Hersch (McCarter kick)

M – 18-yard run Jack Roberge (McCarter kick)

N – 5-yard pass Mark Hall from Justin Dunn (Kost kick)

M – 38-yard pass Nick Dellapiano from Hersch (McCarter kick)

N – 31-yard pass Michael Garner from Dunn (kick blocked)

N – 9-yard pass Michael Garner from Dunn (Ben Mason rush)

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Cormac Roe (14) drops punter Peter Fox

Ball loose on Ryan Shaw (2)

Hunter Cobb follows some good blocking

Leaping catch by Nick Dellapiano (7)

Ben Mason (41) attracts five Panthers

Loose ball after Mark Hall fumble

Jack Roberge (34) breaks loose

QB Justin Dunn gets good blocking from Derek Ivey and Jack Riley

Nick Dellapiano and Michael Zuk celebrate a touchdown

Nick Dellapiano runs under a long Matt Hersch pass

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Filed under Masuk, Newtown

Tagged as Ben Mason, Hunter Cobb, Jack Roberge, Justin Dunn, Matt Hersch, Michael Garner, Nick Dellapiano

November 19, 2016 · 10:03 pm

Nauset gives up 1st goal of the season but wins D2 title 2-1 over Masco

Nauset wins Division 2 state title

Nauset crowd erupts after James McCully’s go-ahead goal in the second half

(Lynn MA) It wasn’t a perfect season but it was perfect enough for Nauset as they defeated Masconomet, 2-1, to win the Division 2 state title on sunny Saturday afternoon at Manning Field.

The 23-0 Warriors came into the final game not having allowed a single goal all year. That season-long shutout was put to an end by Masco’s Mike Budrewicz in the first half.

Mike’s goal tied the score and certified that the Chieftains could stay with the team from the Cape.

“Masco was the best team we faced,” said Nauset coach John McCully afterwards. “They were athletic, matched up well, and had the good player (Bryan Gilbert) on top.”

Nauset scored first early (37:44) in the first half. A direct kick from the left by Curtis Moore reached teammate James McCully unmarked out from the far post. James’ quick shot buzzed by Masco GK Derek Davidson’s left.

Knowing the shutout record of Nauset and the quickness of the first goal, I assumed that things would go downhill for the team from Boxford in a hurry. I was seriously mistaken!

Masco (21-3-1) was able to get into positions where a goal could happen numerous times.

At 25:38 of the first half, Masco evened things. A wonderful pass by Bryan Gilbert from the right, set teammate Mike Budrewicz in the middle. My picture shows Mike with a good look and Nauset GK Jack Avellar hidden behind a defender. Mike kicked toward the left corner and Jack couldn’t see the shot at first and then couldn’t react fast enough when he did.

The Nauset coaching staff considered calling a timeout after the goal but didn’t. “We average five goals a game so even if we gave up one we figured that we still had a couple more in us, “said Coach McCully.

The game-winner occurred at 28:35 of the second half. The ball got to James McCully (from Hayden Yakola) in the middle. My guess is that James’ quick shot came from about thirty-five yards. He hit is with his left foot and the hard grounder sped by Masco GK Derek Davidson. Coach McCully thought that the shot had been deflected by a defender. It may have been.

That one-goal lead with over twenty-eight minutes to go looked anything but safe. Both teams pressed to score and both teams came close.

Sophomore Abdel Talabi blocked a second-half, Masco doorstep attempt that could have tied this game.

Abdel Talabi (#2) sticks a foot in front of Ben Lockhart’s shot as Nauset GK Jack Avellar watches.

But Nauset held on and won their first state title since 1979. Coach McCully was on that team.

Coach McCully also holds the Nauset season-high goals record with 39. His son James reached 38 with today’s two goals. “We said that we would bench him if he tied the record,” joked Coach McCully afterwards.

Jake LaBranche and Mike Budrewicz

Tremendous crowd representing both schools. First time I’ve been to Manning Field where they opened up the stands behind the players’ benches for spectators.

This is the second straight time Masco has lost in the state title game. They have won the D2 North championship three of the last four years.

Nauset scored 108 goals and gave up only one this season.

Nauset has won six straight Atlantic Coast League championships. They have also qualified for the state tournament fifteen straight seasons.

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Josh Polakiewicz (26) sets to pass

Action in front of Nauset net

Masco action in front of Nauset net

Nauset defenders await a direct kick

Mike Budrewicz and teammates celebrate goal

Bryan Gilbert

Action in front of Masco net

Ben Mulholland (13) and Ben Lockhart (9)

Matthew Dzwil (8) battles in the air

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Filed under Masconomet, Nauset

Tagged as Bryon Gilbert, Jake LaBranche, James McCully, John McCully, Mike Budrewicz

November 12, 2016 · 11:52 pm

Newburyport gets it done with PK’s to take D3 North title

Newburyport captains Jen Stuart, Amelia Kroschwitz, Sami Kelleher, and Margaret Cote pose with the D3 North championship trophy

Audra Greenblott’s PK is past disappointed NR goalie Kat Hassapis

(Lynn MA) The Newburyport Clippers advance to the state D3 semifinals after defeating the North Reading Hornets on penalty kicks on Saturday afternoon/evening at Manning Field in Lynn.

The Clippers will now face Medway (18-1-2) on Tuesday night (7PM) at Westwood High School.

Newburyport (17-1-3) came away with the “W” but were outplayed and outshot for most of regulation and two overtimes.

The Clippers scored early (34:48) when Margaret Cote cashed a wonderful feed from Julia Groth in the middle.

Juliette Nadeau (2) sent in by Karlie Vesey gets a clean look.

The Hornets (15-5-1) had the answer less than five minutes later (30:17) when Karlie Vesey sent Juliette Nadeau in clean on NBPT goalie Jen Stuart.

The Newburyport coaching staff immediately called a timeout to settle things down. They probably would have called quite a few more timeouts the rest of the way if they’d had them because the Clippers were a step slow most of the time.

On this night, North Reading could not apply the finishing touch. Trust me, it wasn’t because of lack of setups.

Credit Clippers goalie Jen Stuart for handling the shots she could reach. NR went over the net and just wide a number of times.

This was the kind of pressure Clippers GK Jen Stuart faced frequently

NR keeper Kat Hassapis had shots to deal with but none of the doorstep variety.

Kat Hassapis dives for Margaret Cote’s successful PK

That’s why the penalty-kick segment was just what Newburyport needed to take the Division 3 North title.

In the penalty kick part, there are five rounds unless a team builds up an insurmountable lead. North Reading lost the toss and Newburyport opted to shoot first.

Margaret Cote and Kat Hassapis both connected in round one.

Karlie Vesey (16) and Margaret Cote (11)

Amelia Kroschwitz and Karlie Vesey (wide right) both were unsuccessful in the second round.

In the third round, Krysta Padellaro put Newburyport up 2-1 while Marissa Zarella’s attempt hit the crossbar.

In round four, Kat Hassapis made a diving stop of Colleen Bryon’s try while Clippers GK Jen Stuart slid to her left to block Jessica Muise’s attempt.

In the fifth round, Audra Greenblott found the left corner and for the second straight game gave the Clippers an insurmountable lead and the victory.

This was the third time these two rivals met this season. There was a win, a loss, and a tie for both of them.

I was at Manning Field last year when North Reading defeated Bishop Fenwick, 2-1, on a Haley Nathan goal to win the D3 North.

Krysta Padellaro (19) and Rachel Hill (12)

Newburyport has only allowed seven goals this season, not counting the penalty kicks of tournament play.

North Reading certainly played well enough to win. Just couldn’t take advantage of their numerous chances.

Impressed with defender Jessica Muise. Her strong foot made every corner kick a scoring opportunity.

Good crowd at an excellent facility for tournament soccer.

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

2016 Division Three North champs

North Reading team captains – Marissa Zarella, Kat Hassapis, and Kristina Copelas

Clippers celebrate first goal

Jen Stuart corrals a shot

Sami Kelleher (8) and Kirsten Bradley (20)

North Reading threatens (Rachel Hill on the left)

header

Marissa Zarella (14) gets a head on a corner kick

Ball in the middle

Audra Greenblott

There was some contact

Kaitlyn Shevlin (6) and Colleen Byron (18)

Haley Nathan (11) traps a ball

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Filed under Newburyport, North Reading

Tagged as Amelia Kroschwitz, Audra Greenblott, Jen Stuart, Jessica Muise, Juliette Nadeau, Kat Hassapis, Margaret Cote

November 6, 2016 · 10:44 pm

Amelia Kroschwitz (goal, 2 assists) shines in Clippers 3-0 tourney win

Amelia Kroschwitz had a goal and two assists. Her she powers past a Weston defender

Amelia Kroschwitz had a goal and two assists. Here she powers past a Weston defender

Margaret Cote (11) scored a goal and played tight defense on Karenna Groff

(Newburyport MA) The Newburyport Clippers rode the shooting and passing of senior Amelia Kroschwitz to a 3-0 win over Weston in the Division 3 North quarterfinals on Sunday evening.

The victory will put Newburyport (15-1-3) into the semifinals against familiar Cape Ann League foe Hamilton-Wenham on Tuesday night at 7PM at the Manning Bowl in Lynn.

Amelia, the lone senior on the Clippers, was the big story as she tallied a goal in the first half and set up two teammates for scores in the second half.

#2 seed Newburyport used the large dimensions of Stehlin Stadium to their advantage regularly forcing Wildcats’ defenders to chase and protect their end.

Weston (10-6-3) had a couple of golden chances in the first half. Sophomore Jayme Leschly had a hand in both opportunities with long throw-ins into the box. Newburyport goalie Jen Stuart and defender Krysta Padellaro got in each other’s way on the first one and the ball came loose. No Wildcats able to cash in a juicy rebound. The other glittering Weston scoring chance belonged to junior Sophia Guerin who got in tight and shot right into NHS GK Jen Stuart.

That a Newburyport opponent left a game goalless was not surprising. The Clippers have only given up a total of six goals in nineteen games.

Amelia Kroschwitz put Newburyport on the board eleven minutes into the first half. A Wildcats’ foul, which WHS coach John Power disputed loudly, led to a direct kick.

Margaret Cote and Amelia Kroschwitz about to set the goal-scoring direct kick into motion

Margaret Cote and Amelia were both in position to take the direct kick from about 35 yards away. However, instead of driving the ball, Margaret tapped the ball to Amelia who did drive the ball at Wildcats’ GK Natalie Pettirossi. The ball came in low and hard and skidded under Natalie.

That goal held up through the first half. Clippers Cricket Good, Anna Hickman, and Audra Greenblott put testing shots on the WHS net. The Wildcats had the two near-goals mentioned above.

That 1-0 lead felt anything but comfortable as the second half started.

I mentioned Amelia’s shooting earlier. The second half was about her passing.

Twice in the second half Newburyport used a set play out of a corner kick to get goals. Instead of launching the CK long distance the Clippers got the ball to Amelia on the end line. The Wildcats acted in both occasions as if they expected a long kick and stayed close to the net. Amelia dribbled the end line, eluded a defender and sent the ball toward the front of the net. Amelia’s passes turned into wonderful setups with clean looks on two occasions and produced goals by Margaret Cote (34:07) and Sami Kelleher (11:47).

Jayme Leschly

One constant was the long throw-ins of Jayme Leschly. What a weapon that is! From either sideline she was able to put the ball into the box and create potential trouble for the home team.

A Weston spectator told me that several of the team’s strikers were out because of injuries. Those Jayme Leschly throw-ins might have been even more dangerous if those scorers had played.

Margaret Cote did an excellent job containing skillful Karenna Groff of Weston. Late in the game Karenna found some open space and showed some fancy dribbling moves.

Weston won the Dual County League this season.

The Clippers played a scoreless tie with Hamilton-Wenham during the season at HW.

Newburyport hasn’t lost since September 13^th. That was a 3-0 loss to North Reading. The Hornets, also in D3 North, face #1 seed Swampscott in the game before the HW/Newburyport matchup. North Reading won the D3 North title last season.

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Sami Kelleher comes away after putting the ball in the back of the Weston net

Sami Kelleher and Olivia Goff (3)

Katie Hadden (15) and Sophia Guerin (5)

Clippers GK Jen Stuart makes a save

Audra Greenblott (7) dribbles along the sideline

Collision at midfield

Amelia Kroschwitz with plenty of open space

Krysta Padellaro

Weston coaches Rachel Wood and John Power

Julia Groth (14) eyes a loose ball

Clippers celebrate Margaret Cote’s goal

This was the setup Margaret Cote (left) had after a pass from Amelia Kroschwitz

Newburyport GK Jen Stuart reacts to a shot

Colleen Byron and Weston GK Natalie Pettirossi

Erin Sarocco

Amelia Kroschwitz (5) congratulated by teammates Meredith Vartabedian, and Margaret Cote after first NHS goal

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Filed under Newburyport, Weston

Tagged as Amelia Kroschwitz, Jayme Leschly, Jen Stuart, Karenna Groff, Margaret Cote, Sami Kelleher

November 4, 2016 · 10:48 pm

Amesbury shuts out Innovation Academy 6-0 in tourney first round

Plenty of pressure in the Innovation end throughout the game

Mollie Lynch gets a point-blank shot off on Hawks goalie Melissa Fonseca

(Amesbury MA) Amesbury pressured visiting Innovation Academy from start to finish and won their Division 4 First Round game, 6-0, on Friday night at Landry Stadium.

The #6 seed Indians (10-4-5) will play #3 seed Matignon next on Monday.

Amesbury racked up three goals in the first half and substitute Schuyler Snay had assists in two of them. In both cases, Schuyler sped along the right sideline before finding teammates Chelsea Lynch and Maia Etsy in the middle.

After two point-blank shots by the Lynch cousins (Mollie and Chelsea) it was Mollie who converted a rebound to open the Amesbury scoring at 19:58.

Michaela Halloran had a goal disallowed for colliding with Innovation goalie Melissa Fonseca late in the first half. My photos would suggest otherwise.

Emily Reed (3) and Ashley Pettet (8)

Less than two minutes into the second half sophomore Ashley Pettet tallied a low bullet from the left. Ashley was the best player on the field from where I was watching. She constantly created space for herself and found teammates with excellent passes.

Emma Richardson finished off a Mikayla Porcaro throw-in to collect the 5^th Indians goal.

Two plus minutes later freshman Sophia Carter used a strong left foot the garner the home team’s final goal.

The Hawks of Tyngsboro (8-6-5) had plenty of speed but couldn’t get any sort of passing attack in motion. Good Amesbury defense led by Emma DiPietro, Hannaih Burdick, and Mikayla Porcaro spelled the difference.

Emma Richardson (25) scores on a throw-in

No question that Mikayla Porcaro’s long throw-ins created problem in front of the Innovation goal.

Ashley Pettet had some very dangerous corner kicks for the Indians.

Plenty of students on hand supporting the AHS girls soccer team.

I knew that identifying Innovation players would be an adventure when the game program had their names without numbers. I also discovered that the MIAA roster for the team was inaccurate.

Surprised that there were no announcements about the specifics of each goal.

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge significantly if you click on them.)

Amesbury celebrates a tourney win

Sophia Carter (26) and Ashlee Porcaro (14) in on GK Melissa Fonseca

Innovation Academy team

Sunset before the game

Contact as Ivana Dauwer, Mollie Lynch, and Sydney Mallen watch

Sarah Milne (4) and Michaela Halloran (9)

Ashley Pettet dribbles to daylight

Chelsea Lynch in on goal

Eyes on the ball

Sarah Milne and Mollie Lynch

Where’s the ball?

Amesbury celebrates first goal

Chelsea Lynch (12) looks to head

Maia Etsy (15) shoots and scores assisted by Schuyler Snay (1)

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Filed under Amesbury, Innovation Academy

Tagged as Chelsea Lynch, Emma Richardson, Maia Etsy, Melissa Fonseca, Mollie Lynch, Schuyler Snay

October 31, 2016 · 9:11 pm

Amesbury girls win rematch with Essex Tech 5-0

In front of the Essex Tech goal was a busy place most of the afternoon.

Cape Ann League All-Star Emma DiPietro (11) looks to pass

(Amesbury MA) A month ago it took a penalty-kick save by Indians goalie Alli Napoli to preserve a scoreless tie.

This time around it was all Amesbury as they routed Essex Tech, 5-0, on a cold, breezy Monday afternoon at Cashman Elementary School.

The non-league match involved two Division 4 teams who could meet again in the MIAA tournament.

ET (12-4-2) had won nine straight before losing to Georgetown and now Amesbury, both from the Cape Ann League.

The Hawks from Danvers have dominated their league (Commonwealth Athletic Conference) the last few seasons but this season’s short sample suggests that the competition is more rugged in the CAL. One of ET’s other defeats was to another CAL team, Triton.

Amesbury (9-4-5) had a slim 1-0 advantage after the first half. Credit the Hawks defense led by junior Skylah Mahon-Dixey for some of that. The Indians hit the goal post (Emma Richardson) and the crossbar (Chelsea Lynch) in that first half.

The only goal of the half belonged to senior Mollie Lynch. Mollie got in close from the left and overpowered freshman GK Olivia Cassidy early in the half.

The shot of Mollie Lynch (19) goes over ET goalie Olivia Cassidy

Things got off to a bad start for Essex Tech in the second half. Senior Ella Spiess chased a ball that Amesbury GK Alli Napoli was sliding out to save. The two collided and Ella landed on her back and left the game. Ella is the Hawks second leading scorer with thirteen goals.

Ella Spiess flies over Amesbury goalie Alli Napoli

After a Chelsea Lynch near-miss (wide left) a long punt by GK Alli Napoli sent Chelsea away for a long run down the middle. Chelsea sped in close and didn’t miss. Alli should have an assist on that second goal.

Chelsea Lynch (12) finds the far corner for Amesbury’s second goal

Essex Tech never gave up but the chances for Amesbury kept coming. The Indians had only nineteen goals in seventeen games coming in but you couldn’t tell that by the way they pressured the visitors in this game.

A good example of pressure was the number of corner kicks that Amesbury had. In the second half two of those corner kicks turned into goals.

The third goal belonged to Ashlee Porcaro who parked in front of the net on teammate Ashley Pettet’s CK. A loose ball turned up in front and it was an easy finish for the freshman.

Ashlee Porcaro (left 14) set to cash in a loose ball

A later CK, by Emma DiPietro, was mishandled by Hawks GK Olivia Cassidy and junior Michaela Halloran had a juicy setup on the doorstep which she converted.

Michaela Halloran (9) eyes the goal she just scored

Mikayla Porcaro turned a throw-in into a goal

The final goal was a throw-in by senior Mikayla Porcaro which she literally threw into the goal. The throw-in was high and Olivia Cassidy jumped in vain for it.

Christine Russo (nineteen goals, three assists) made several good runs for the Hawks in the game. Amesbury, however, had three second-team Cape Ann League All-Stars (Alli Napoli, Julia LaMontagne, and Mikayla Porcaro) as their final three defenders so the chances for ET were few.

Amesbury’s two first-team CAL All-Stars (Emma DiPietro, and Ashley Pettet) played that way. They controlled the ball without panicking and could get by defenders often with clever dribbling. Their passing was excellent.

Some things are what they are. The Cashman Elementary School field leaves plenty to be desired. Uneven, muddy, and minus a scoreboard would be starters. There will be no tournament games there.

For a team like Amesbury, which had only nineteen goals in seventeen games, to get five in one game was a nice way to end their regular season.

This was the Indians first winning season in a while. The previous three have been, 5-10-3 (2015), 5-12-1 (2014), and 6-10-1 (2013).

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Mikayla Godding

CAL All-Star Ashley Pettet

Amesbury shot grazes the crossbar in the first half

Christine Russo (17) and Maddy Creps (2)

Maia Etsy (15) and Emma Richardson (25) chase Rachel Luddy (6)

Olivia Cassidy makes a save

ET defender Skylah Mahon-Dixey

Amesbury captain Julia LaMontagne

Virginia Vienneau (39) chases a loose ball

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Filed under Alli Napoli, Amesbury, Essex Tech

Tagged as Ashlee Porcaro, Chelsea Lynch, Christine Russo, Ella Spiess, Michaela Halloran, Mikayla Porcaro, Mollie Lynch

October 22, 2016 · 9:42 pm

Masco runs streak to four with 15-14 win over Triton

Josh Anderson (47) brings down Lewi L’Heureux to finish the game

Time left on the clock when the game resumed

(Byfield MA) Josh Anderson of Masco stopped one Triton drive with a fumble recovery and ended the game by tracking down elusive Vikings’ QB Lewi L’Heureux.

Josh’s heroics on Saturday night were part of the resumed ten minutes of the Cape Ann League matchup. The night before thunder/lightning put an immediate halt to the game with over ten minutes still left.

Triton (5-2) started the resumed play with the wind in its face and a 4^th down on their own ten yard-line. A gutsy pass play worked between Lewi L’Heureux and Tom Lapham to extend the possession for the Vikings.

In that extended possession, however, Lewi L’Heureux fumbled the exchange and senior Josh Anderson made the recovery.

Tim Beliveau (23) followed excellent blocking for two first downs late in the game.

Masconomet (5-2) followed with several clock-killing first downs aided by a nice scramble by QB Declan Judge and some well-blocked runs by Tim Beliveau.

Triton did get the ball back on downs in the last minute but the combo of wind and Masco’s prevent defense would not allow the home team to get out of the own end.

The game concluded with Lewi L’Heureux scrambling left and then right before Josh Anderson caught up to him and ended the contest.

I was impressed by the number of folks who came out on a cold/windy night to watch ten minutes of football. The final ten minutes lasted only twenty minutes.