Westfield goalie Aiden VanOostveen makes a leaping save Monday evening at Ludlow High School. (Photo by Chris Putz)
LUDLOW – The Westfield High School boys soccer team fought the defending Division 1 champion Ludlow tooth and nail with all they had Monday night on the road before falling to the Lions 3-0.
For nearly 20 minutes, Westfield held Ludlow scoreless. The Lions finally got on the scoreboard after a tripping penalty in the box when Michael Tuck, Jr. converted a PK with 20:38 remaining in the half.
Ludlow made it 2-0 when a strong offensive push resulted in a goal from Jack Sarafino. Anthony Quiteiro assisted.
An own goal in the second half made it 3-0.
“I thought we played really well,” Westfield boys soccer head coach Andrew Joseph said. “We let up a soft goal on that first one and made a couple of mistakes on their second one in the first half, but we played a really awesome second half.”
Westfield managed to go on the counter-offensive after battling through Ludlow’s 3-4-3 attack. The Bombers got a good look or two in the first half and some better ones in the second half before the Lions defense prevailed.
Westfield will look to keep its positive effort going Thursday when the Bombers host the Minnechaug Falcons at Roots Athletic Center Field at 3:45 p.m.
Monson 9, St. Mary’s 1
Jack Lamirande tallied St. Mary’s lone goal and Saints’ goalie Hayden Lussier finished with 30 saves at Granite Valley Middle School’s Moriarty Field in Monson.
GIRLS SOCCER
Westfield Technical Academy 2, Sci-Tech 0
Westfield Tech tallied one goal in each half, and the Tigers’ defense stifled Sci-Tech on the road.
Christina Mosijchuk scored on a direct kick from outside the 18 for the third time this season to give Westfield Tech a 1-0, first-half lead. Tigers’ senior midfielder Ashley Torres tallied her first career goal in the second half off a corner from captain Jess Bush.
Westfield Tech’s defense held Sci-Tech without a shot in the first half. The Cybercats came out firing in the second half, managing three shots on goal, but Tigers’ goalie Caitlen Carter came up with each stop.
St. Mary’s 8, Pathfinder 2
Allie Goodreau scored five goals and Emma Goodreau had two goals and four assists as St. Mary’s (6-0-1) jumped out to a 6-0 lead and cruised to a convincing home victory.
Chloe Lussier tallied the first St. Mary’s goal of the game, and had an assist as well.
St. Mary’s keeper Amelia Willenborg made 12 saves.
The early lead allowed St. Mary’s to make several substitutions.
“That’s perfect as we have a lot of nagging injuries that the time off will allow to heal a bit,” said St. Mary’s coach Patrick Olearcek, whose team will now enjoy a week off before returning to action against Putnam Mon., Sept. 30 at Forest Park in Springfield. “We are hoping the experience of playing for many of the younger girls will help continue the good play well into the next phase of the schedule.”
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Southwick def. Renaissance 25-22, 25-15, 25-10
Kayla Andrade delivered a solid all-around effort, collecting five aces, seven digs, two kills, and 26 assists to help fuel a sweeping victory for Southwick. Rams’ Jen Motsko (4 aces, 9 digs, 2 kills), Sarah Cerone (6 kills, 2 blocks) and Kaitlyn Haseltine (31 assists) also contributed.
GOLF NOTES: Southwick golfer Matthew Garrity delivered another strong round of golf, this time against Northampton, improving his season average to 38.4.
Thurs., Sept. 19
GOLF
Westfield Technical Academy 18.5, Pathfinder 5.5
Westfield Tech picked up a key victory at Cold Spring Country Club in Belchertown to improve to 3-3.
Hunter Loomis, Riley Sulivan and Jake Collier each swept their matches 4-0; Nick Moran shot a 51 to split his match 2-2; and Trent Adam was the low scoring Tiger, shooting a 48 and picking up 3.5 points.
