Southwick’s Alex Mello breaks away for the game-winning goal as the Palmer bench looks on in dismay. (Photo by Chris Putz)
SOUTHWICK – O-N-E.
The Southwick-Tolland Regional High School girls’ soccer team has scored just one goal three games into the 2013 regular season. But the first goal was a big one.
Freshman forward Alex Mello scored in the 57th minute on a breakaway against visiting Palmer to break Southwick-Tolland’s scoreless streak and lift the Rams to a 1-0 victory Thursday. It was the first loss for the Panthers (3-1).
Mello received a great upfield pass from fellow freshman, Sam Perusse, faked out a defender near the top of the penalty box, dribbled through the middle of the field untouched, and shot the ball into the left corner of the net past Palmer goalie Haley Laviolette.
“We lost our first game (to Central 2-0), we tied (Sabis 0-0 in) our second game, so it was nice to win,” Mello said.
Mello, Perruse, and the rest of the team’s forwards, midfielders, defensive backs, and goalies Meg Zabik (5 saves – 1st half) and Tory Richburg (9 saves – 2nd half) clamped down defensively to preserve the Southwick victory.
In the first half, the senior goaltender, Zabik, made a key save, corralling a shot in the final minute to preserve a scoreless tie.
Richburg, a freshman, faced a bit more pressure in goal, but came up with some big stops, including a diving save in the 65th minute and another, stepping up at the top of the box in traffic to turn the ball away.
“The more we play, the better we jell,” Rams coach Todd Downie said. “To me it’s not the fact that we beat them (Palmer). It’s just the fact that we won – we scored.”
JV RESULTS
Palmer 2, Southwick-Tolland 1
McKenzie Frey scored an unassisted goal in Southwick’s home loss. Rams’ goalkeeper Kayla Bergerndale made four saves.
BOYS’ SOCCER
JV RESULTS
Southwick 4, Monson 0
Brandon Caster scored two goals, and Dylan Parrow and Matt Daley each netted one in a win Sept. 10. Daley contributed two assists, and Dan McClellen and Brett Geddis each had one.
The Rams were coming off a 6-0 blowout victory over South Hadley on Sept. 6. Goal scorers in that one included Brandon Caster with two goals, and Nick Chambers, Dylan Buscemi, Daley, and Mike Flemin each with one.
Geddid, Riley O’Connor, Will Pratt, Matt Lecrenski, and Hogun Kang delivered strong defensive play.
