Westfield Technical Academy’s Rileigh Sagan (11) finds herself in the middle of a scrum in front of the Pathfinder net. The Pioneers narrowly avoided a goal by the Tigers on this play. (Photo by Chris Putz)
THREE RIVERS – One.
Pathfinder scored one goal – – a second-half score – – and the Pioneers held off Westfield Technical Academy in a high school girls soccer game Monday afternoon, 1-0.
“This was a back and forth game for my girls today,” Westfield Tech girls soccer head coach Lyle Washington said. “It’s a tough loss for us, especially after we had so many shots on goal.”
Westfield Technical Academy generated 14 shots on net with just two missing their target. It appeared as if one of those attempts was going to find the back of the net midway through the first half when a scrum ensued in front of the Pathfinder net.
Rileigh Sagan and her fellow teammates peppered the Pathfinder net with shot after shot as goalie MacKayla Weldon tried to push through the defense, the ball rattling off legs like a pinball. The Pioneers somehow escaped the shooting barrage unscathed.
In the 52nd minute, Pathfinder’s Hannah Montanez scored off a pass from Maikayla Perez.
“We knew it was only going to take one to squeak by and that’s what Pathfinder did,” coach Washington said.
Westfield Technical Academy goalie Caitlen Carter finished with 11 saves. Pathfinder keeper MacKayla Weldon (12 saves) earned the shutout.
St. Mary’s 5, Putnam 0
Emma Goodreau recorded a hat trick, Allie Goodreau had two goals and two assists, and goalie Amelia Willenborg (3 saves) pitched a shutout in the Saints’ convincing road victory.
Macy Woodger also had an assist.
“The whole team was involved in this win with everyone contributing,” St. Mary’s girls soccer head coach Patrick Olearcek said.
St. Mary’s defensive core of Erin Olearcek, Woodger, Audrey Burke, Jess Crosby, and Paighton Ramos were stout, allowing very few chances on net.
St. Mary’s improved to 7-0-2.
BOYS SOCCER
Westfield 1, West Springfield 1
Westfield and West Springfield each scored a second-half goal, and played to a tie.
Westfield led 1-0 after scoring 15 minutes into the second half when Jack Keeney guided Nichita Solopa through on the left wing. Solopa put the finishing touch for the score.
“Nichita has been working hard and generating some solid opportunities,” Westfield boys soccer head coach Andrew Joseph said. “Jake is also emerging as a consistent threat up top.”
West Springfield tied the game 1-all with 15 minutes remaining in regulation. It was the fourth tie for Westfield (1-4-4) through nine games this season.
“(It was) another tie that felt like a loss, given the opportunities we had,” coach Joseph said.
Aiden VanOostvenn was solid again in net for Westfield. Bombers’ Jack Fortier, Mike Grochowski, and Dom Rinaldi were excellent in central midfield. Tyler Shrewsbury was dominant in the backfield.
FIELD HOCKEY
Southwick 2, Belchertown 1
Southwick hosted Belchertown in a rematch of the 2018 Division 2 quarterfinal, and came away with a thrilling 2-1. It was the first loss of the season for the Orioles (6-0-1).
Southwick (5-2) rallied from a 1-0 first-half deficit. Belchertown scored with 14 seconds remaining on an unassisted goal from Abigail Olden.
Emily Martin scored the equalizer for Southwick, and later set up Alex Grimaldi’s game-winner with eight seconds left in the game. Katerina Kavrakis assisted on Martin’s goal.
Southwick goalie Clare Stratton finished with 18 saves. Belchertown keeper Abigail Rothstein had three.
JV RESULTS: Southwick’s Emma Cheffer scored the lone goal in her team’s 2-1 loss. Rams’ goalie Ezri Johnson made eight saves.
GYMNASTICS
Minnechaug 135.5, Westfield 131.75, Agawam 120.425
Minnechaug claimed two of the top three all-around spots (Kyla Miller, Haylie Calver) and handed Westfield (5-1) its first loss of the season.
Miller won the all-around competition with a first-place score of 35.15. She was followed by Westfield’s Kylie Liptak (33.45) and Calver (33.2).
Miller finished first on the vault (8.95) and balance beam (9.0), and was second on uneven bars (8.45). Liptak placed third on bars (8.2) and floor exercise (8.8), and fourth on beam (8.15).
Westfield’s Kaela Johnson finished second with her floor routine. She earned an 8.85.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Westfield def. Ludlow 25-15, 25-16, 25-10
Westfield swept Ludlow to improve to 7-2 overall, 5-0 Western Division. The Bombers were led by Viktoria Pavlyuk (11 kills, 2 aces, 4 digs), Brigid Moriarty (29 assists, 3 digs), Irelis Rodriguez (9 kills, 7 aces, 6 digs), Maia Kelso (5 kills, 3 blocks), and Yanaira Henry (10 digs, 2 aces).
Putnam def. Southwick 25-26, 25-21, 25-23
Emily Buchter (15 digs), Alexandra Methe (14 digs, 3 aces), Victoria Burkovskiy (3 kills, 1 block), Jen Motsko (4 digs, 3 aces, 2 kills, 1 assist), and Sarah Cerone (2 blocks) led Southwick. Rams’ Kayla Andrade and Kaitlyn Haseltine also had three assists apiece.
GOLF
Westfield 163, Belchertown 183
Westfield improved to 7-1 overall, qualifying for the Western Massachusetts championships with a win at Tekoa Country Club.
Senior captain David Tirrell shot a match-best 39. Bombers’ senior Colin Scanlon finished with a 40.
Southwick 16, Chicopee Comp 8
Southwick’s Matthew Garrity shot a par-36 at Chicopee Country Club to lead all golfers. Rams’ Ben Cleland had a 46 and Jesse Johnson shot a 49.
Easthampton 18, St. Mary’s 6
Collin Freeman led St. Mary’s out on the links at Tekoa Country Club, shooting a 47.
