Wilmington golf team snaps long losing streak
The Wilmington High golf team rose to the challenge against Melrose on Monday, beating the Red Raiders, 37.5-34.5, at Hillview Golf Course in North Reading.
It was the Wildcats’ first win in 62 matches, snapping a long losing streak that extended the past five and a half seasons.
“The losing streak is over,” said Mike Maloney, who’s in his first year at the helm. “The winning streak is now at one.”
Wilmington’s top two golfers, freshman Nate Anderson (6-3) and sophomore Matt Driscoll (5.5) led the way, backed by a stellar supporting cast that came up big.
“Going into the ninth hole at Hillview was daunting,” said Maloney.
Wilmington’s No. 5, Anderson, was up two points, while No. 6 Driscoll was down by three. Both hit their balls safely over a water hazard, while Melrose didn’t, setting the stage. The duo then hit a pair of good chip shots onto the green with decent par looks, forcing both Melrose golfers to concede the hole. The score remained tied over the next six matches.
Meanwhile, the Wildcats’ depth continued to hit its stride. No. 7 senior Austin Harper (5.5) was up three, while No. 8 freshman Ryan Archer (5-4) was up one, going into the last hole, virtually sealing the deal.
“We kind of had it clinched before they even hit their tee shots,” said Maloney. “It was a little anticlimactic in that respect. We were all trying to do the math in our head.”
Starting the season at 0-6, the Wildcats never lost faith in themselves.
“There are some teams in the Middlesex League that are daunting,” said Maloney. “There are some college-level golfers here, so its definitely something you’re thinking about. You’re just trying to get one. I felt the first couple weeks of the season, even though we weren’t winning, I could see it coming.”
“The last couple weeks were tough,” Maloney added. “We had a couple matches we thought would be competitive in against Watertown and Wakefield. We didn’t do great. We were OK, but I thought we lost some momentum. To come back today and get the W, makes last week a bit of a hiccup. Now we’re back in business and very excited.”
It was also very rewarding for the team’s senior captains Bobby Cyr (5.5-3.5) and Joey Galvin (5-4 L). Cyr won his match by two, while Galvin lost by one.
“If they can be competitive in these matches then we have a shot,” said Maloney. “They led us today. I can’t say enough about these kids, with all the work they put in. It’s been great. Now we take on Woburn tomorrow and will try to get a second one.”
BILLERICA 10.5, DRACUT 9.5 >> Billerica winners included Caden Spolidoro (4&3), Michael Giordano (2 up), Davis Gardner (2 up). Tommy Ronzio and Tommy Best halved their matches, while four-ball winners Spolidoro and Beau Courtemanche (1 up), Gardner and Andrew Murgo (2 up) also made key shots. Giordano and John Burns split their four-ball match.
Dracut’s Colin Underwood was the medalist at Hickory Hill Golf Course with a 37. Underwood (3&1), Chad Vigeant (2 up) and Connor Daniel (2 up), led the way for the Middies. Tommy Jackson and J.P. Cataldo halved their matches yet won their four-ball match. The team of Vigeant and Aiden Theriault also split their four-ball match.
TEWKSBURY 19, LOWELL 1 >> Comedalists Matt Cooke (2&1, 37) and Jeremy Insogna (5&4, 37) led the way for Tewksbury (3-9) at Mt. Pleasant Golf Club.
The Redmen were paced by individual match winners Ryan Baker (4&3), Victor Pacheco (4&3), Tyler Crawford (2&1), Jake Civitarese (1 Up) and Jake Cunha (1 Up). Rick Pacheco flatted his match for Tewksbury, joining Lowell’s Matthew Casey. Tewksbury best ball winners included Cooke and Baker (3&2), Insogna and Rick Pacheco (4&3), Victor Pacheco and Crawford (3&1), as well as Civitarese and Cunha (4&3).
MONTY TECH 150, NT 165 >> Ryan Hebert was the medalist for Monty Tech (9-1) with a 1-over par 36 at Gardner Golf Course over Nashoba Tech (5-4).
Jayden Auger (37) led the charge for Nashoba Tech (5-4) in stroke play, recording an eagle on hole 7 at Gardner Municipal Golf Course. It was a 530-yard par 5 course, with a dogleg left. Other Nashoba Tech notables included Noah Davidopoulos (40), Anthony Loconte (42) and Dominic Honors (46).
Girls soccer
INNOVATION 1, NORTHEAST METRO 0>> Raziyah Macy netted the lone goal of the game, off a feed from Keira Frazier in the second half.
Innovation defended well with solid efforts from Kaleigh Mccarthy, Alex Butters, Gianna Hebert, Yuli Mamet and goaltender Cassidy Bilawchuk.
BROMFIELD 1, LITTLETON 0 >> Tigers goalkeeper Elle Manser hung tough for 80 minutes, holding Bromfield to just one goal in the narrow Mid-wach loss. WILMINGTON 3, READING 2 >> The Wildcats pulled out the Middlesex
League win, as Molly Macdonald notched Wilmington’s first two goals, the second on a rebound. Jill Collins tallied the third goal for Wilmington (4-3-1).
Boys soccer
GREATER LOWELL 6, GREATER LAWRENCE 0 >> Samuel Lucena scored three goals and added an assist, as Greater Lowell leveled Greater Lawrence.
Gregoire Amissi sparked the attack with two goals and a pair of assists. Gabriel Soave also scored, with Alejandro Opina Mejias and Kwasi Boateng III each picked up helpers in the shutout.
Volleyball
CHELMSFORD 3, BRIDGEWATERRAYNHAM 2 >> Kyra Ward registered 30 kills, 20 digs and five aces, while also providing the game-winning kill as the Lions won the non-league match.
Dropping its first two sets 2624, 26-24, Chelmsford staged a comeback for the ages, 25-22, 25-23, 15-13. Maggie Luke set the table, dishing 42 assists and 10 digs. Ellen Griswold garnered 30 digs and five aces. Bridget Trainor tallied eight kills and 10 digs. Bonnie Politzer provided eight kills and 14 digs.
It was the 200th career victory for head coach Edgar Valdez. TEWKSBURY 3, CENTRAL CATHOLIC 2; >> The Redmen edged Central 25-18, 18-25, 16-25, 25-16, 15-12.
Julie Hall had 31 digs and 15 kills for Central (3-7), while Nicolette Licare dished 29 assists. HAVERHILL 3, BILLERICA 0 >> Melissa Panaligan had 20 receptions and 14 digs for Billerica (7-4) in a tough loss to Haverhill.
The Indians were swept in straight sets 25-13, 25-23, 2527. Despite the defeat, the Indians played a well-rounded game. Nyrah Joseph posted seven blocks and five kills. Kendra Marino and Rylie Stromme also played well.
INNOVATION 3, PIONEER CHARTER 1 >> Susannah Goodrich led the attack with nine kills, six digs and four aces, as Innovation (5-2, 9-2 overall) peppered Pioneer Charter.
Dropping the first set 25-23, the Hawks regrouped over the next three matches 25-23, 25-20, 25-18. Emily Garcia helped key the comeback with six kills, 11 aces and five digs. Casey Dubois was also deadly landing eight aces and 18 digs.
ANDOVER 3, LOWELL 0 >> The Red Raiders were unable to upset MVC powerhouse Andover (9-1), falling 25-19, 25-12, 25-11. METHUEN 3, DRACUT 0 >> The Middies ran into a MVC buzzsaw in Methuen (9-3), which needs one more victory to qualify for the state tournament. Scores were 25-17, 25-16, 25-17.
For Dracut, Jocelyn Vegas was superb with 42 digs and three kills, while Zoe Clarke shined with seven kills, 13 digs and five service points. Mckenzie Blatus played well defensively.
Field hockey
ROCKPORT 5, GR. LOWELL 0 >> The Gryphons were unable to stop Sydney Bouchie and Addie Gardner, who both had two goals for Rockport, in the non-league defeat.
CENTRAL 4, N. ANDOVER 1 >> Kerri Finneran notched three goals and an assist to power the Raiders to the MVC win. Julia Smida also scored for Central (6-1, 5-0 MVC).
TEWKSBURY 4, HAVERHILL 0 >> Kat Schille and Gabby Couillard tallied two goals each to fuel the Redmen to the MVC conquest. Tewksbury led 1-0 at halftime and then pulled away.