Gateway senior forward Jessica Van Heynigen (12) stands in between head coach Steve Estelle, right, and assistant coach Matt Bonenfant after Tuesday’s game at Mohawk. Heynigen tallied three points against the Warriors to reach her career 100th. (Photo by Chris Putz)
SHELBURNE FALLS – For Gateway Regional High School girls soccer senior forward Jessica Van Heynigen, the road taken to achieve a major milestone was well worth the wait.
Van Heynigen scored her 98th, 99th, and finally, her long-awaited 100th career point as Gateway upended Mohawk Trail 4-0 on the road Tuesday.
The historic 100th point came after a nearly one-hour bus ride and some 70-plus minutes of game action when Van Heynigen took a throw-in from Erin Harris dribbled in and scored.
Teammates swarmed Van Heynigen with celebratory hugs, and the game was momentarily stopped to present the Gators’ senior with a game ball.
“Without the support system I have, I wouldn’t have gotten 100 (points),” Van Heynigen said after the game. “My team, my family, and my coach have been pushing for this. I haven’t been pushing for this. I’m just playing the games.”
Gateway High School girls soccer players swarm their senior forward, Jessica Van Heynigen, second from left, after Heynigen scored her 100th career point Tuesday at Mohawk Trail Regional High School. (Photo by Chris Putz)
After reflecting upon the accomplishment, Van Heynigen added: “Now I’m really determined to make Gateway history. I really want to beat Jess Rida.”
Jessica Rida owns the school’s all-time scoring mark of 104 points, set in 2002.
“Jess (Van Heynigen) has a relentless desire,” longtime Gateway coach Steve Estelle said. “She dribbles the ball as fast as she runs. It’s a well-deserved award. She not only plays hard in games … but she’s had a commitment to improve in the game of soccer year after year.”
Van Heynigen’s quest to become the school’s all-time leading points-getter will continue Friday at Smith Academy at 4 p.m.
Notes: In addition to earning an assist on Van Heynigen’s epic goal, Harris scored the first goal of the game in the 15th minute, and set up Van Heynigen’s first scoring play – the team’s second – 40 minutes later. Hannah Duggan assisted on Van Heynigen’s second score in the 69th minute. … Becca Herman earned a shutout in net for the Gators.
Orioles edge Bombers late
Belchertown 2, Westfield 1
Belchertown rallied from a 1-0 first half deficit with a pair of second half goals.
Emma LeBlanc dealt an assist on the game-tying goal (Allison Tetreault scored) and recorded the game-winner unassisted with 32 seconds remaining in the game.
Chandler Pedolzky notched the lone Westfield goal unassisted at the 34:24 mark of the first half.
Belchertown goalie Samantha Burke finished with 12 saves. Westfield keeper Adrianna Arona collected 11.
Tigers rally
Westfield Technical Academy 3, Putnam 2
Westfield Tech forged a comeback, rallying from a two-goal deficit.
Sydnie Brock crossed a ball from the outside to captain Heather Lannon who “one-touched it” to net to cut the deficit in half just before the half.
Six minutes in the second half, freshman Jess Bush tied the game with an unassisted goal.
That appeared to be all the momentum Westfield Tech needed as the Tigers pounded their offensive half of the field until Sydnie Brock crossed another ball that Liliya Stepanchuk netted.
Westfield Tech goalie Liliya Stepanchuk made one save in the first half; Tigers’ keeper Kiaraly Serrano hauled in eight in the second half.
Golden Eagles clip Rams
Central 1, Southwick-Tolland 0
Southwick goalie Hannah Gerrish made seven saves in a narrow defeat.
In JV action, Southwick tied Central 2-2. Mikaila Davenport scored twice for the Rams. Annette St. Jacques and Malleigh McGivney assisted.
Southwick goalie Isabella Poules and Sophia Andrade each had four saves. Rams’ Clare Hannah was solid at the center-mid position.
HCSS slips by STM
Hampden Charter School of Science 2, St. Mary’s 1
Allie Goodreau tied the game 1-all on a beautiful corner kick from Chloe Lussier in the second half but fell late as Hampden Charter tallied what their head coach Patrick Olearcek felt was a controversial goal on a questionable goalie interference no-call.
“Nevertheless,” said Olearcek, “the Lady Saints showed great improvement from past games and look to get back in the win column.”
Jess Crosby was “lights-out” in net for St. Mary’s, making 25 saves, several of which came in spectacular fashion.
GOLF
Rams extend streak
Southwick-Tolland 154, Pope Francis 159
Southwick improved to 15-0 with superb outings from James Longhi (37), Nick Kavrakis (38), Chris Baker (39), Brad Durand (40), Matt Garrity (40), and Sam Mizanoglu (40) at Franconia Golf Course.
“Another great win and another match tomorrow,” said Southwick-Tolland golf coach Al Selden, whose team continues to march through the links of Western Mass unbeaten.
FIELD HOCKEY
Smith notched 18 more saves
Northampton 3, Westfield 0
One day after reaching her 500th career save, Westfield senior goalie Gwen Smith made 18 more in a shutout loss on the road.
In JV action, Westfield lost 5-0. Bombers’ keeper Danielle Coe had 16 saves.
BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY
Daniels paces Gators
Gateway 23, Franklin Tech 28; Gateway 26, Mohawk 32; Mohawk 25, Franklin Tech 30
Brandon Daniels crossed the finish line first for Gateway (second overall) with a time of 19:25 on the re-designed course at Littleville Dam. Franklin Tech’s Sohan Tyner won the race in 19:01.
Calvin Rioux (6th overall, 21:21), Jared Small (9th, 23:34), and Jake Reynolds (10th, 23:35) rounded out the top 10 for Gateway.
Times on the decline; Bombers on the rise
Westfield 18, Putnam 43; Westfield 15, Duggan Academy 50; Holyoke 15, Westfield 50
A total of 23 runners (out of 27 for the team) recorded a season or personal best for Westfield on the road at Holyoke’s Ashley Reservoir.
Sophomore Kaleb Cree finished first for Westfield in 17:53, followed by his brother, senior Zach Cree (18:06), senior Isak Lund (18:29), sophomore Nick Stathatos (18:42), and junior Nick Duncan (19:04).
GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY
Westfield downs Holyoke, Putnam, Duggan Academy
Westfield senior captains Sophie Gronbeck (21:15) and Mia McDonald (22:12) were among the top finishers at the famously flat, fast 3.1 mile course at scenic Ashley Reservoir under epic fall conditions.
Holyoke and Putnam fielded some talented runners that pushed Westfield throughout the race, but the Bombers dominated at the finish line.
Westfield freshman sensation Makenzie Ritchie (25:10) and first-year senior Anna Stewart (25:21) finished fourth and fifth overall, followed by teammates Nicole Servetnik (26:20), Sarah Grobe (26:18), and Sophia Taglieri (28:00).
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
Athol def. Southwick-Tolland 25-19, 21-25, 25-16, 25-21
Kaitlyn Haseltine (5 aces, 1 assist), Chloe Emond (5 digs, 4 kills, 1 ace, 1 assist), Kayla Andrade (6 assists, 3 digs, 2 aces, 1 kill), Allie Methe (5 digs, 3 kills, 4 aces), and Vicky Burkovskiy (3 kills, 2 blocks, 1 ace, 1 dig) led Southwick.
LATE RESULTS
Mon., Oct. 2
Chicopee Comp 2, Southwick-Tolland 1
Kishiam Bashin scored for Southwick (1-3-2). Rylan Secovich earned the assists.
