Kutsman kick has Belmont in Elite 8
Last Wednesday, Belmont was seeded 30th in the Division 1 boys’ soccer bracket, making the tightknit group from the Middlesex League a long shot for a deep state tournament run. On Thursday, amid a chaotic, celebratory scene at Natick High, Belmont coach Niman Kenkre gave an emotional summary of the last week.
“This is like a fairy tale,” said Kenkre, tears falling from his eyes. “In some ways, this is the greatest experience of my life.”
Belmont had just outlasted Natick, 2-1, in penalty kicks, capping a tense and physical secondround matchup in the rain. The hero was Samuel Kutsman, who moseyed to the spot as the fourth shooter and delivered the winning kick into the right corner.
After watching the ball sail into the net, Kutsman sprinted across the field and slid on his knees, diving into a pile filled with exuberant teammates and sending the Marauders (13-5-4) into a quarterfinal showdown with league rival Winchester Sunday.
“There’s magic with this team,” said Kenkre. “We felt like we deserved more than a 30 seed. But we’re super confident right now and brimming with confidence. I can’t believe we’re in the Elite 8.”
Thursday’s match was a microcosm of Belmont’s postseason, which began with a 2-0 win over Medford in the preliminary round and continued with a thrilling, 3-2, upset of third-seeded Acton-Boxborough on Sunday.
Division 1 State
Weymouth 2, Brockton 0 — Mason Fasoli and Cameron Walty scored for the No. 5 Wildcats (143-4) in the second-round win.
Winchester 3, Brookline 0 — Senior Liam Harris scored twice and classmate Ronan Walsh added a goal and an assist for the No. 11 Red and Black (15-1-2) in the second-round win. Colin Stesney logged the shutout, the second straight clean sheet for the senior.
Division 2 State
Billerica 2, Westborough 1 (SO) — Senior Amir Mahrez scored the winner in the shootout for the No. 2 Indians (18-1-1) in the secondround win. Mahrez kept his composure and drilled his penalty into the side netting to fire Billerica into the quarterfinal.
“Being a senior really helps,” Billerica coach John Vassallo said. “Amir’s our leader in the back . . . the biggest thing I tried telling [the team] is to do the best you can, take a deep breath, relax, and get it on frame. As long as you get it on frame, it’s got a good chance of going in.”
The Indians scored four of five penalties, and Westborough (79-3) hit a crossbar on the third attempt before Billerica goalie Riley Donovan stonewalled the fourth penalty. Senior Brian Jones scored the Indians’ lone goal in regulation after Mahrez prodded a cross to him in the box.
The Indians played with 10 players for the final 20 minutes of regulation and both overtime periods due to a red card.
Wakefield 4, Somerset Berkley 0 — Jack Millward and Darragh Casey each slotted in a pair of goals for the No. 5 Warriors (153-2) in the second-round win. Millward struck twice in the first half before passing the baton to Casey, who scored both his tallies in the second half.
Division 5 State
Westport 7, Hull 0 — Will Quinlan (three goals), Nyzaiah Pacheco (two goals), Ben Novo (two goals), and Carter Couto (two assists) each played a part in multiple goals for the No. 8 Wildcats (190-1) in the second-round win.
Girls’ soccer
Division 1
Bishop Feehan 2, Central Catholic 0 — Junior Téa Briggs volleyed home a goal in the 13th minute and Ava Graham added an insurance tally in the 61st minute as the second-seeded Shamrocks (180-1) cruised to the second-round win over No. 18 Central Catholic.
The Shamrocks started fast, pushing the play with pace and forcing the issue, commanding possession throughout. After several close calls, Briggs, a junior from North Attleborough, waited on a lofted ball over the backline and smashed it far side to open the scoring.
Graham, a senior captain from Smithfield, R.I., outraced the defense on a beautiful ball from Neve Taylor and buried a breakaway opportunity to seal the deal.
Natick 2, Weymouth 0 — Just as coach Dave Wainwright predicted, the top-seeded Redhawks (18-1-1) received all they could handle from their Bay State Conference rival.
But a pair of second-half penalty kicks from senior captain Kaitlyn LeBrun was the difference in the second-round win at chilly Natick High.
In the 45th minute, Nicole Proia dribbled down the left seam and was tackled as she attempted a shot in front of the net. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty kick. In stepped the calm, cool, and collected LeBrun who slid the shot bottom right for a 1-0 lead.
Division 3 State
Hanover 2, Wilmington 0 — Sophie Schiller and Sophia Foley each scored for the No. 3 Hawks (19-0-1) in second-round triumph.
Nipmuc 3, Dedham 1 — Abby Mullins and Kyah Montano each logged a goal and an assist for the No. 7 Warriors (16-2-2) in the second-round win.
Pope Francis 3, Archbishop Williams 1 — Isabella Meadows scored twice for the No. 5 Cardinals (17-1-0) in the second-round victory in Chicopee.
Girls’ volleyball
Division 1
Franklin 3, Haverhill 2 — Makayla Kuykendall (19 kills), Olivia Alberti (15 kills), and Taylor Lacerda (13 kills) lifted the No. 10 Panthers (19-2) over second-seeded Haverhill for the quarterfinal win.
Needham 3, Attleboro 0 — The fifth-seeded Rockets (16-3) soared to a quarterfinal win behind Sam Tam (15 kills, 12 digs), Lizzie Tam (29 assists), and Izzy Streeper (6 aces, 11 digs).
Newton North 3, Bishop Feehan 1 — Alexa Marucci powered the offense with her passing and stayed steady on defense as the topranked Tigers (22-1) earned the quarterfinals win. Newton North will host No. 5 Needham in the semifinals.
Division 5 State
Bourne 3, Whitinsville Christian 0 — Senior captain Elena Timo (12 assists, 5 kills, 2 aces), sophomore Sofia Halunen (11 assists, 8 kills), and sophomore Lily Russel (19 digs, 8 aces) powered the secondseeded Canalmen (17-5) to a dominant quarterfinal victory.