Ghosts’ hot start scary
Westford feeds off 2016 loss
Looking back, the way last year ended has kick-started something special for the Westford Academy girls soccer program in 2017.
Competing out of the always competitive Dual County League, the Grey Ghosts finished the regular season 9-5-2 and entered the Division 1 North tournament as the No. 11 seed before losing to eventual sectional finalist Acton-Boxboro on penalty kicks in the first round.
But with the return of eight seniors — Katherine Arnold, Allison Breen, Maeli Cherry, Rebecca D’Anna, Hannah Kruger, Emma O’Sullivan, Katherine Pawlak, and Hannah Roche — Westford Academy has turned itself into a legitimate state title contender.
After a 10-0-1 start, the Ghosts fell to Newton South, 3-1. The teams are tied atop the DCL Large, and Westford Academy still has hopes for its first league championship since 2001.
“Our seniors and even a handful of our juniors have been playing at the varsity level together for three years,” Westford Academy coach Tracy Capone said. “This year is when they’ve really started to jell, and everything is starting to come together. They understand the high school game, and they are so united as a team.”
Senior captains Arnold, D’Anna and Kruger were at the forefront of offseason training sessions and overnight camps that set the foundation for this success.
“They really prepared for this (year), and it is a testament to their development,” Capone said of her senior class.
The Grey Ghosts have found a winning formula because they are learning to play consistently every game. It is a process that will need to continue if they hope to make it past the first round of the tournament.
The moment is now for this group of girls.
“We always talked about how good we were going to be our senior year, and we have all really stepped up,” Kruger said. “I do feel like that loss (to Acton Boxboro) has been motivation this season, and we are looking to take that next step.”
St. Mary’s boys on roll
There might not be a team in the state hotter than the St. Mary’s boys program.
With their 2-1 victory against Austin Prep on Wednesday, the Spartans clinched their third Catholic Central League title in the past four years while running their record to 12-0. And along the way, St. Mary’s has already checked off several preseason goals, including winning the 15th annual Lynn Invitational Tournament, qualifying for the state tournament — the Spartans did it before the end of September — and capturing a league title.
“Our first goal was to win the Lynn Tournament, and we did that, and then we wanted to make the playoffs, and then we wanted to win the league title,” St. Mary’s coach Mike D’Agostino said.
Now, with just six games left in the regular season, a team made up of a bevy of returning seniors and juniors has its sights set on its first state title since 1988.
“I only lost two seniors from last year after we had a great run,” said D’Agostino, whose team advanced to the Div.4 North semifinals in 2016. “It’s great to be undefeated to start the season, but I have a great group of mature players this year with four seniors and 14 juniors. We have depth and talent, and I am really happy with the way we’re rolling.”
St. Mary’s strength starts on the back line. Senior captain and four-year starter in goal Rich Mateo has been a rock. Through 12 games, Mateo had 10 shutouts and has stabilized a defense that had limited opposing teams to just two goals in 12 games.
“Rich is a senior captain, and he has been phenomenal,” D’Agostino said. “Our defense is playing great, but some games he has been so solid, stopping breakaways and making saves left and right. He is really playing well for us. We build from the back, and having a great goalkeeper is a huge help to what we do.”
Playing well in front of Mateo on the back line have been defenders Nolan Perez, Connor Mackey, Jose Del Valle and Olu George, while senior captain Chris Garcia, whose 10 goals and eight assists have powered the offense, is the main man up front for the Spartans.
“(Chris) has stepped up this year, and he definitely is a No. 1 prospect in the state for college (recruiting), and overall he is committed to the team and the program,” D’Agostino said.
Help, offensively, has come from juniors Joe Thongsythavong and Thiago DeOliviera, Matt Connolly, and Nolan Perez.
Two years ago St. Mary’s lost in the Div. 4 state championship to Monson. It was a tough pill to swallow at the time, but for D’Agostino and the Spartans, it has been motivation to get back and finish the job.
“I’ve been here now nine years, and this is the best start we’ve had,” D’Agostino said. “We are just trying to stay strong and remain solid. Two years ago, we went to the state title (game), and we are hoping to get back.”