Clippers aiming to avenge
Newburyport can still feel the sting of last season’s Division 2 state semifinal loss to Cohasset. That defeat serves not only as motivation for this year’s club, but also changed the Clippers’ approach.
After going 20-1 last season, Newburyport beefed up its schedule. The Clippers responded to the challenge, and are one game away from back-to-back undefeated regular seasons.
“What it did was show us how much work we have to do this season to be prepared to beat a team like Cohasset,” said coach Catherine Batchelder. “We’ve been working not out of revenge, but understanding that as well as we did last year, we still had a lot more to go.”
Newburyport (19-0) scheduled tough nonleague matchups with Lincoln-Sudbury, Marblehead
and one upcoming with Andover
to become more battled-tested. They ground out wins over Cape Ann League foes Manchester Essex and Masconomet.
A favorite in Division 2 North, Newburyport’s senior-laden squad feels well equipped to have another long postseason run.
“It’s all about preparing ourselves and I think we’re ready for the tournament,” said senior captain Molly Rose Kearney. “We’ve been working really hard. We know what to expect. It shouldn’t be anything we haven’t seen or played before.”
None of Newburyport’s opponents have kept up with its sensational offense, which has notched double-digit goals in each contest. Maggie Pons and Kearney lead the way, combining to score more than 160 goals, while the stellar play of goaltender Molly Laliberty solidifies the defense.
One-upmanship
In 2012, Anthony Tortora helped Medford set a single-season program wins record with 14. Now in his third season as coach, Tortora’s Mustangs are reaching new heights, eclipsing the mark he helped establish as a player.
“It’s so much better to break it as a coach,” said Tortora, his team at 15-3. “As a player, you’re one guy doing as much as you can to try and break it. As a coach, you want the 17 guys that we have putting in all the work, to have them have the same feeling that you had. It’s even 17 times better than it was the first time.”
Medford won just 13 games combined in Tortora’s first two seasons at the helm. He credited the turnaround to senior leadership.
Jack Lonergan’s versatility and offensive acumen keys the Mustangs, while Joe Sargent is also an offensive threat. Defensively, Liam Cullinane forms the backbone of the unit. Joe Camara’s aggressive style in net proves beneficial.
“They just bought in. A complete culture change,” Tortora said. “The seniors, they can look back and they saw a lot of talent that came through. I think they just looked at each other and said, ‘We were good, but we didn’t put all the right pieces together.’ They took it upon themselves as leaders.”
Twice is nice
Julia Scannell’s fingerprints are all over Milton’s record book.
Scannell became the hockey program’s all-time leading scorer with 270 career points this past winter, the same record she holds for the lacrosse program. She added another accomplishment on Monday, scoring seven times in a 17-5 victory over Norwood to break the goal mark.
“It’s a good feeling,” said Scannell, who scored 12 more goals in two games this week to give her 168 to go with 116 assists and 284 career points. “I love playing hockey and lacrosse, so it’s nice to have those memories along with my four years in high school.”
Coach Katherine Phelan knew Scannell had a chance to topple the record at the start of the season. Unlike last year, she was the primary scoring option. Despite all her records, though, it’s Scannell’s unselfish nature that helps the Wildcats thrive.
After a nine-year postseason hiatus, Milton qualified for the state tournament for the second straight year on Scannell’s record-setting night.
“(Making the tournament) made the program start to turn a little bit and Julia’s been a big part of that along with my other two captains (Kat Buchanan, Kelly Shea),” said Phelan.