WESTFIELD – It is not too often that an opponent gets to strike at the heart of the Longmeadow High School girls’ lacrosse team.
This nationally-ranked squad of female All-Star lacrosse players rarely loses to anyone, so when Westfield took a 1-0 lead in the opening seconds of Tuesday’s game in the Whip City and played the Lancers to a 3-all tie in the second half, there was good reason for pause.
“Yeah, we did lose, but we did hold up,” said Westfield senior Rachel Gelina, who scored not one, not two, but three goals in Tuesday’s 17-6 loss.
RACHEL GELINA
It was the first time a Westfield player recorded a hat trick against Longmeadow since 2013 when Vikki Whalen achieved that feat. Even more notable for Gelina, the first goal was her career 100th.
“It’s the best feeling ever,” Gelina said. “Getting a hat trick and my 100th goal topped it off.”
Westfield started off strong, manufacturing a goal 45 seconds into the game on a shot from Hannah Jarvis (2 goals, 1 assist).
Longmeadow responded with unmatched ferocity. Ally Tetreault tied it 1-all 92 seconds later. The Lancers went on to score 10 consecutive goals over a 10-minute span to take control of the game.
Westfield’s Rachel Gelina takes aim at Longmeadow goalie Hannah Valencia (44) Tuesday. Gelina recorded her 100th career goal. (Photo by Chris Putz)
Gelina provided Westfield with a glimmer of hope, halting the Longmeadow offensive barrage with two goals of her own with back-to-back goals in the 15th and 16th minutes to pull within 10-3.
Longmeadow responded yet again with four straight goals to regain command, and take a 14-3 into the half.
Both teams tallied three goals apiece in the second half.
Tetreault and Henna Brennan each finished with four goals. Courtney Barret also recorded a hat trick for Longmeadow.
“They’re nationally ranked,” Westfield coach Paul Fenwick said. “We set a goal for ourselves – six goals – and we did that. We just need to learn to get better every year. Right now, I’m just extremely excited for Rachel Gelina, and her 100th goal.”
“I felt our girls didn’t quit and were supportive of each other. That helps in building a solid team.”
BASEBALL
Saints top Gators
St. Mary 8, Gateway 2
St. Mary’s bats sizzled. The Saints produced three multi-hit players, and several others who clubbed at least one hit apiece.
Billy Lamirande went 3-for-3 with a run and two RBIs. Shaun Gezotis and John Daley each went 2-for-3. Daley scored twice, and Gezotis had a run and RBI. Jake Butler had a hit, run, and two RBIs.
Kyle Koloski scattered five hits on the mound for St. Mary. He recorded six strikeouts in seven innings of two-run ball.
Tom Ruffo had a hit, run, and RBI for Gateway. Brett Turban had a hit and scored one run.
Rams batter Red Raiders
Southwick 14, Hampshire 3
In the first at-bat of the game, Southwick lead-off batter Eddie Martinez blasted a solo homer to left field. The Rams’ offense followed suit.
Martinez (4-for-5, 2 RBIs, HR), Sam Parker (4-for-4, four RBIs), Bart Shea (3-for-5, 2 RBIs), and Jake Goodreau (hit, 3 RBIs) provided the offense, which compiled 18 hits.
Southwick pitcher Nick Kavarakis scattered six hits, walked four batters, and struck out two in five innings. Kavarakis allowed three runs, one of which was unearned.
Sam Parker earned the hold by pitching two innings for the Rams. He struck out two, and walked one.
“Leading off the game with a home run was a nice momentum builder,” Southwick coach Bill Dupre said. “Hampshire is a good team, but we just piled up the runs. I think we’ve been building toward this.”
Southwick improved to 3-2.
SOFTBALL
Bombers club Purple Knights
Westfield 25, Holyoke 3
Westfield compiled a whopping 28 hits in a blowout victory at home.
Brit Kowalski finished a triple short of the cycle, going 4-for-5 at the plate for Westfield with two singles, a double, home run, three runs, and eight RBIs.
Hayley Moniz (4-for-4, two runs), Nicole Clemente (4-for-4, three runs, RBI), Casey Almeida (4-for-5, walk, three runs, three RBIs), Morgan Zabielski (3-for-3, two walks, four runs), Sam Schieppe (3-for-4, double, three runs, four RBIs), and Grace Barnes (3-for-5, run, four RBIs) also had stellar offensive at-bats.
Moniz was equally as superb on the mound, pitching a two-hitter. She struck out 12.
BOYS’ LACROSSE
Bombers roll to 4-1
Westfield 14, South Hadley 4
Westfield encountered no road blocks as it cruised to 4-1 with a resounding victory at South Hadley.
Westfield’s Matt Chlastawa (3 goals, 3 assists), Max Maggipinto (5 goals), Anthony Sullivan (1 goal, 4 assists), Mason Balch (3 goals), Chris Ward (1 goal, 1 assist), Matt Bonsall (2 assists), and Dan Gosselin (1 goal) led the offense. Bombers’ Cole Lunardini helped key the attack by winning the majority of faceoffs.
Mitch Weiss, Mario Metallo, Neil Sheehan, and Zach Cree delivered another solid effort defensively for Westfield. Bombers’ goalie Matt Reynolds made 12 saves.
“Our defense and midfielders have not been getting beat up top,” Westfield coach Mark Cavallon said. “That has been a big factor in our 4-1 start.”
BOYS’ TENNIS
Saints halt slide
St. Mary 4, Renaissance 1
St. Mary put an end to a four-game slide to begin the streak with a resounding victory Tuesday.
St. Mary’s Zach Mastalerz defeated Mudather Abdelrahman at second singles, 6-0, 6-1; Patrick Boyle won by default at third singles; Matt Bruno and Garrett Almeida toppled Richard Plant and Ehab Abdelrahman, 6-1, 6-0; and, Remie Guevremont and Joe Wilcox won by default at second doubles.
