Westfield’s Gianna Katsounakis (9) dribbles around Agawam’s Jess Bonfiglio (2) in a high school girls’ soccer game Tuesday. (Photo by Chris Putz)
WESTFIELD – For nearly one quarter of a high school girls’ soccer game, Westfield High School remained knotted in a scoreless tie Against Agawam. For 39 minutes, 48 seconds, the Bombers were tied or trailed the Brownies.
That all changed in the blink of an eye.
Westfield’s Lindsey KIltonic took a pass from Katrina Arona and knocked home a game-tying goal with 11 seconds remaining in regulation to pull out a thrilling tie Tuesday at home.
Agawam struck first. Kaitlyn Sheehan scored at 19:30 of the first half on a penalty kick to give the Brownies a first-half lead, 1-0.
Westfield never let up, never gave in, and it paid off in the end.
Westfield goalie Lindsay Cousins made eight saves to force a tie. Agawam keeper Jess Bonfiglio also finished with eight.
Rams knot Sabis
Southwick 1, Sabis 1
Alex Mello scored one goal, and Tori Richburg had one save for Southwick.
Tigers roll past Red Raiders
Westfield Technical Academy 9, Commerce 0
Westfield Tech captains Sydnie Brock and Emily White connected on a scoring play – White netted the goal – eight minutes into the contest, and the floodgates open as the Tigers went on to score nine goals.
Brock and fellow teammate Liliya Stepanchuk scored two goals apiece, captain Heather Lannon had one goal and one assist. Chantal Parenteau and Liza Lapko socred one goal apiece, and freshman Ashley Torres collected two assists.
Westfield Tech goalie Diana Solokhina made two first-half saves, scored a goal in the second half and assisted on another.
St. Mary’s Erin Olearcek kicks the ball upfield. (Photo by Chris Putz)
Saints stun Eagles
St. Mary 2, Franklin Tech 1
St. Mary rallied from a 2-1 deficit to stun Franklin Tech at Westfield Middle School North.
St. Mary’s first goal came from freshman Erin Olearcek on a direct kick that she tucked in the nearside post from outside the box.
“It was an awesome goal that set us up for some confident play for the rest of the game,” St. Mary coach Andy Lussier said.
Allie Goodreau scored St. Mary’s game-winner on a feed from Sam Manchino to create a one-on-one with the Franklin Tech keeper where she buried the ball in the far post corner of the goal.
“This front line is starting to make things happen the way that they are working together,” coach Lussier said. “We were much stronger in the middle of the field today with some great feeds to our front line by freshmen Mary Turbolski and junior Caitlyn Olearcek. Our front line is really starting to develop with some great play by junior Lexi Shedd, eighth grade Chloe Lussier, junior Emmalina Toma, and seventh grade Allie Goodreau. They set up some great shots on goal and kept the pressure up.”
St. Mary’s Jenna Turrini led the defense, shutting down several second half runs from Franklin Tech. Saints’ keeper Aisling Butler cleaned up in net.
“The girls played great everywhere today and things are starting to come together. We are seeing improvement all over the field and girls are hungry for wins.”
Gators blank Smith
Gateway 4, Smith Academy 0
Jessica VanHeynigen scored two goals, Rachel LeBarron and Samantha Belardo had one apiece, and Becca Herman earned a shutout in net to lead Gateway past visiting Smith.
Megan Wright, Samantha Belardo, Grace LeBarron, and Ava Auclair each had an assist for Gateway. The Gators’ diamond defense of Gabby Goralczyk, Bri Fellows, Megan Wright, and Jules Dickerson played a great game.
BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY
Rams split tri-meet
Southwick 26, Palmer 29; Monson 26, Southwick 29
Southwick’s Billy Carroll won the 3.09-mile race in 18:59. Jack Davis (5th, 20:55) and Matt Jensen (8th, 21:57) managed to crack the top 10 for the Rams.
GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY
Defending champs top Bombers
Northampton 17, Westfield 39
The defending Western Massachusetts champion Northampton Blue Devils downed Westfield (1-1) and Westfield Tech at Stanley Park.
Evelyn Burke, Leila Markosian and Mairead Blatner claimed the first three places with Westfield’s Sophie Gronbeck in a close fourth. Mia McDonald, Mary Philpott, Libby Irwin and Clara Hinck rounded out the Bombers scoring finishes.
Other noteworthy performances included denior Allie Dinopolous and sophomore Hannah Jury, who have been training well. Each bettered their times by 1:15. The Bombers return to Stanley Park for their last home dual meet on Tuesday, Sept 27.
GOLF
Whitman, Bonsal propel WHS
Westfield 167, Chicopee Comp 208
Liam Whitman and Matt Bonsal each shot a 41 at Tekoa Country Club to fuel Westfield’s victory.
Rams excel in victory
Southwick 22, Monson 2
“Everybody played pretty good,” Southwick coach Al Selden said after trouncing Monson at Edgewood Country Club.
Selden was truly accurate in describing his team’s performance as Jagger Turegon (39), James Longhi (40), Bradley Durand (40), Chris Molta (41), and Matthew Garrity (42) all shot solid rounds of golf.
It was a nice bounce back victory for Southwick (2-1), which was coming off a 151-169 loss to Division 1 oppnent South Hadley.
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
Falcons sweep Bombers
Minnechaug def. Westfield, 25-10, 25-16, 25-17
Stephanie Sgueglia (4 aces, 8 digs), Meghan O’Brien (3 kills), and Julia Golob (3 assists) led Westfield.
JV GIRLS’ SOCCER
Southwick 2, Sabis 0
Shea O’Neill scored two goals in Southwick’s shutout victory. The Rams improved to 2-1.
