Westfield Technical Academy Golf Team
WESTFIELD – The Westfield Technical Academy golf team (9-2) swept the season series against St. Mary’s, winning a thriller Tuesday at Tekoa Country Club, 13-11.
Westfield Tech’s Evan Grant defeated Cam Cusack at the No. 1 spot, 2.5-1.5, with the low score of the day (46). Cusack shot a 47. In the second spot, St. Mary’s Collin Freeman shot a 48 to defeat Deven Werbiskis, 3-1.
The Tigers were all over the Nos. 3-4 spots with Andrew Reed (49) besting Gavin Connors, 4-0, and Ella Werbiskis downing Ryan Major, 4-0.
“The top of our lineup posted decent scores and we were fortunate enough to hold on,” Westfield Tech golf coach Bob Eak said.
The highlight of the day came on the par 3 third hole. Both Reed and Ella Werbiskis put their tee shots within eight feet of the pin before sinking birdie putts.
“We wanted to play well today, considering who our opponent was,” Eak said. “You always want to do well against your cross-town league rival. …Both matches with St. Mary’s were as close as they could get.”
Westfield Tech won the regular season series matchup by a total of just three points.
“It doesn’t get any funner than that,” Eak said. “With our success this year, I’m extremely excited about the next few years.”
Westfield Tech’s future also looks bright as the Tigers have three sophomores and six freshmen on the team.
St. Mary’s fell to 5-6.
Morris leads Rams to victory
Southwick 162, West Springfield 168
Southwick (7-2) overcame West Springfield’s Samuel Johnson, who shot a match-best 36 at Springfield Country Club’s par 36 to move within one win of qualifying for the Western Massachusetts Division 2 championships.
Andrew Morris led Southwick with a 38. Matthew Garritty finished a close second on the Rams with a 39. Teammates Josh Drumm and Jesse Johnson finished with a 40 and 45, respectively.
It was Southwick’s first match in nearly two weeks.
Florek roars back to lead Bombers
Longmeadow 156, Westfield 160
Longmeadow’s Ryan Downs shot a match-low 31 on a wet course at Twin Hills Country Club. Andrew Florek led Westfield (5-5) with a 3-over on the par 35.
Despite the team loss, Florek had a nice afternoon on a relatively overcast day.
“My game is a lot better than it was last year,” Florek said, “especially my short game. I’m making good chips and good putts. Hopefully I can keep doing the same thing.”
It was an inauspicious start for Florek. The Westfield golfer had a bad tee shot, but all was not lost. Florek recovered for par.
“That set me up for the day,” he said. “I got on track and it continued the whole round.”
FIELD HOCKEY
Rams lose hard-fought battle
Smith Academy 3, Southwick Regional 2
Earlier this season, the Smith Academy field hockey team shut out Southwick 5-0. On Tuesday, the Rams nearly got some revenge.
Southwick took its first lead against Smith Academy this season, building a 2-1 halftime advantage. But the Falcons rallied for a pair of second half goals to squeak past the Rams, 3-2.
“Going into the second half of the season, today was the best game the team has played so far,” Southwick field hockey coach Jenn Oakland said. “We are a completely different team from the first time we played Smith and it definitely showed today.”
Devan Fox had one goal and one assist for Southwick. Rams’ Marisa Coviello scored a goal and Grace Brockbank delivered an assist.
Southwick goalie Ezri Johnston made eight saves.
“The team worked a lot in the past few practices on defensive marking and offensive movement and they really put that into play today,” coach Oakland said.
Three different players – – Charlotte Jennings, Cat Kokoski, and Makena Valentine – – scored for Smith Academy. Falcons Christa Kemp had one assist.
Smith Academy goalkeeper Hadley Szynal finished with five saves.
McDonald scores in Bombers’ tie
Westfield 1, Mohawk 1
Westfield’s Rowan McDonald scored off a pass from Norah Bargatti. Bombers’ goalie Lindsey Brown made one save.
BOYS SOCCER
This time, early advantage leads to Bombers’ victory
Westfield 8, Mount Greylock 1
Michael Liquori opened the scoring for Westfield two minutes into the game when he first-timed a cross pass from Jack Fortier. Mount Greylock tied it later when John Morales buried a first time shot top corner.
Fortier restored the lead for good when he dribbled into the box and found himself alone with the keeper. Then, Nichita Solopa scored the next four goals.
Solopa’s first goal came at the 38th minute off an assist from Liquori. His second and third came from Fortier in the 39th and 59th minutes of the game. Solopa scored on a penalty shot 30 seconds later to go up 6-1.
Tyler Kutt scored unassisted for Westfield with four minutes left in regulation. Ryder Finnie tallied his first varsity goal in the final minute of the game.
“The challenge at halftime was to the seniors to push the guys to compete for 80 complete minutes,” said Westfield boys soccer coach Andrew Joseph, who has seen his team net two draws and a loss among Amherst, Pope Francis and Pittsfield after leading 2-0 early in each of those games. “We’re happy with the second half response.”
Westfield goalie Aiden Van Oostveen collected three saves.
Hedges tallies goal in Rams’ loss
Central 2, Southwick Regional 1
Ashton Hedges scored the lone Southwick goal in the 68th minute off a pass from Brennen Vinesett.
GIRLS SOCCER
Shvyryd nets hat trick in Tigers’ shutout
Westfield Technical Academy 7, Commerce 0
Iryna Shvyryd recorded a hat trick, Rileigh Sullivan (1 goal, 2 assists) and Nella Kondratyuk (1 goal, 2 assists) each collected three points, Mia Slack scored two goals, and Ella Dubovaya had two assists as Westfield Tech rolled to a convincing shutout of Commerce.
Tigers goalie Lindsey Deland made four saves.
“This was a great effort from the entire team,” Westfield Tech goalie Lyle Washington said. “Everyone that stepped on the field made good touches, communicated, and did what they needed to keep possession and put shots on goal.”
Westfield Tech returns to action Thursday against Putnam at Jachym Field. Game time is 4 p.m.
Goodreau sisters pace Saints; Willenborg posts another shutout
St. Mary’s 3, Greenfield 0
St. Mary’s Allie Goodreau scored two goals, one off a nicely placed penalty kick and the other a beautiful long range shot, curling the ball into the corner of the net over the goalie’s outstretched hands. Macy Woodger set up the score with a nifty pass.
Emma Goodreau opened the scoring with a wonderful direct kick that found the top corner of the net from just outside the goal box.
St. Mary’s goalie Amelia Willenborg continued to shine in the net, making 14 saves for yet another shutout this season.
But that’s not all.
“One of the unsung heroes of the game was Eliana Umana Kimura, who two times made tremendous moves and forced fouls that set up both Emma’s and Allie’s first goals,” St. Mary’s coach Patrick Olearcek said. “In addition, Kailyn Cabrini has really been a standout, taking away the other team’s top wing scoring threat. It allows the other players back there to concentrate on taking away the play down the middle.”
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Sikand leads the way
Southwick 19, Palmer 42
Nick Sikand finished first with a time of 20:40, leading Southwick (6-4, 4-3 league) to victory. Sikand lowered the overall course record by 22 seconds.
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Sanctuary sets the tone
Southwick 19, Palmer 42
Southwick’s Elleigh Sanctuary won the race in 23:37. Sanctuary’s winning time lowered the school’s course record that she previously set by 1:03.
It was also “Senior Night” for Southwick. The program’s two seniors, Ruby Francis (girls) and Seth Doe (boys) went out in style as they both lowered their 12th grade school course records they had set earlier this year by 26 seconds and 19 seconds, respectively.
The Southwick girls improved to 7-4 overall, 5-2 league.
