Westfield’s Chandler Pedolzky, left, hammers home the second goal of the game with this right-footed kick. Pedolzky had a banner afternoon, scoring five goals and assisting on another. (Photo by Chris Putz)
WESTFIELD – It might be early in the season – – opening day, in fact – – but Chandler Pedolzky and the Westfield High School girls soccer team appeared wide awake.
Pedolzky scored five goals and assisted on another as Westfield opened the 2019 regular season with a convincing 6-3 win over Agawam Tuesday at home.
“I just wanted to go out there and get a win for my girls,” said Pedolzky, who helped key a quick 2-0 lead with a goal and assist in the first five minutes of the game.
The first goal came when Catie Bean emerged from a scrum out in front of the net with a score 2:36 into the opening half. Pedolzky was credited with the assist.
Less than two minutes later, Pedolzky scooped up a loose ball in the box and delivered a right-footed kick past Agawam senior goalie Alex Oldenberg (15 saves).
“They played a really high line so the balls over the back line were working the most so that’s what we stuck to and what we kept doing,” Pedolzky said. “They didn’t really adjust to it in the second half so it kept working for us and we just went along with that.”
About midway through the first half, Agawam did manage to slice the lead in half with a goal from Mia Kelley. The second half was another story.
Pedolzky continued her onslaught. The junior forward scored three goals in the first five minutes, extending her team’s advantage to 5-2.
Westfield’s Catie Bean (2) follows the flight of the ball as it bounds down the field during Tuesday’s season – – and home – – opener against Agawam. (Photo by Chris Putz)
Agawam recouped one goal, scoring with 10:59 remaining in regulation when Hope Santaniello steered one past Westfield goalie Adrianna Arona (7 saves).
Pedolzky would have none of it, upping the lead to three goals again with her fifth tally of the game. The speedy Bomber sprinted upfield to intercept a pass deep in Agawam territory, dribbled into the goalie box untouched, and drilled the ball into an open space in net for a final goal with 6:23 left.
“Chandler reads the game so well and works really hard off the ball,” Westfield girls soccer head coach Keith Saltmarsh said. “I think she’s in tune with her sister and the midfielders. She’s creating the run and delivering the balls. She’s able to get on the other side of it to receive it. Just her one-v-one presence and ability to win balls in the open and beat players one-v-one, and one-v-two, one-v-three is fantastic. Then she’s got the finishing ability. Power and finesse brings it all together. She really has the whole package.”
Chandler Pedolzky has a leg up on the competition, having already secured one title this past summer when she scored the game-winning goal in overtime of the Premier Soccer League’s national championship to help New England Futbol Club West defeat the Dallas (Texas) Sting 1-0 in Denver, Colorado. Her fellow Bomber mates, Emma Pedolzky and Saige Smith were also part of that championship team.
“We’re going to be strong contenders,” said Saltmarsh, noting Westfield’s recent run of semifinal appearances. “With basically the same group … I’m really expecting us to have a strong year. I don’t think there’s any weak team and anybody can beat anybody. …Once the emotions kick in, it’s just high school soccer. That’s the fun part of it.”
BOYS SOCCER
Westfield Technical Academy 4, Smith Voke 0
Darryl Reopel scored twice, and Bodhi Hall and Vlad Cherepanov tallied one goal apiece as Westfield Technical Academy shut out Smith Voke at Jachym Field.
“We have a strong core from last year but also many newcomers,” Westfield Technical Academy boys soccer head coach Kyle Dulude said. “We have a large squad with a lot of heart and I feel like there is a lot of good already within the team so early in the season. Hopefully everyone keeps buying into the team concept and commitment.”
The defense was committed to locking down the opposition with Dan Kontsimal, Dave Tikhonchuk, Alec Smith and freshman Jon Vella holding Smith scoreless.
McCann Tech 3, St. Mary’s 2
Omar Ugdah scored two goals, including the game-winner and assisted on a third as McCann Tech squeaked out a win against McCann Tech at Westfield Intermediate School.
Ugdah scored on a penalty kick in the 22nd minute. After St. Mary’s countered with a goal about 10 minutes later (Jack Lamirande from Jack Masciadrelli), Ugdah set up Ivan Liang for a go-ahead goal 15 minutes into the second half. Lamirande tied the game 2-all on another pass from Masciadrelli, but Ugdah responded with the game’s final goal.
“Not a bad outing for our Saints in their first game of the season,” St. Mary’s coach Andy Lussier said. “It’s nice to have some numbers with the team this season. It give us some options that we just didn’t have last year. We’re making some changes in our game that may take a little to get under our belt, but we’re on the right track. The team is feeling pretty good about what we’re doing and is positive.”
Both teams goalies were strong
McCann Tech goalie Andrew Levesque made six saves. Hayden Lussier made 21 stops for St. Mary’s.
Said Lussier: “(Hayden) kept us in this game today. He’s got a strong presence in net and good instincts.
FIELD HOCKEY
Westfield 2, Southwick 1
Meghan Bowen and Camryn Scanlon each scored a goal to help Westfield slip past Southwick at Boardman Field. Claire Griffith and Abby Daley had the respective assists.
Emily Martin scored the lone Southwick goal. Alex Grimaldi assisted.
Lindsey Brown made five saves in net for Westfield. Southwick goalie Clare Stratton finished with eight saves.
In JV action, Westfield won 3-0.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Westfield def. Ludlow, 25-19, 25-12, 25-12
Viktoria Pavlyuk (13 kills, 1 block), Yaniara Henry (13 digs, 3 aces), Brigid Moriarty (22 assists), Emily Gelinas (5 kills, 2 blocks), and Olivia Hadla (4 kills, 4 aces) fueled a season-opening victory for Westfield on the road.
GOLF
Westfield 155, Ludlow 199
“It was a great start of the year for us,”
Anthony Chibowski shot a 38 to lead Westfield (1-0) at Tekoa Country Club. David Tirrell, Colin Scanlon and Andrew Fuller all posted 39s for the Bombers.
