WESTFIELD – The Westfield Voc-Tech High School boys’ soccer team won a thriller yesterday, defeating Pioneer Valley Christian School 1-0 at Bullens Field.
Voc-Tech goalie Vitaly Covileac made a key save on a penalty kick in the 25th minute, and Dmitriy Stepanchuk converted a PK with seven minutes remaining top lift the Tigers, who are one win away from earning a tournament berth.
Voc-Tech won despite being without six players for various reasons.
“They battled, they struggled, but I give them credit for their efforts out on the field,” Voc-Tech coach Kyle Dulude said. “It was a very exciting game, back and forth. …Now we need one win for Western Mass. That’s our goal right now.”
Covileac preserved the shutout by jumping on a bounding ball out in front of the net before a PVCS player could kick it in.
Sweeper Adam Guilbert, center-fullback Ian Fecteau, and center-halfback Peter Makarchuk controlled play in the midfield for Voc-Tech. Tigers’ Roman Tikarchuk provided solid minutes off the bench, covering a lot of ground and winning a bunch of 50/50 balls.
Gateway 2, Greenfield 0
Josh Bailargeon scored two first half goals – one on a pass from Zack Mackechnie and the other unassisted – to lift Gateway (5-3-3). Baillargeon scored in the 25th and 33rd minutes.
Gators’ goalie Mike Arel (8 saves) blanked Greenfield.
Hopkins Academy 1, Westfield 1
Kyle Murphy had a goal, Matt Lacroix assisted, and Sam Blake made seven saves in net for Westfield, which is in desperate need of a victory.
GOLF
Westfield 257, Chicopee Comp 303
Ian Wolski shot a season-low 39 at Tekoa Country Club, Cam Dirico finished with a 41, and Chris Paradis and Conner Sullivan each had a 43 to help Westfield earn its ninth win of the season, but more importantly, earn a spot at Western Mass.
“Good news for us,” Westfield coach Chris Strycharz said. “The kids are excited. They put in a lot of work so far.”
The Bombers have four matches remaining before postseason play begins.
St. Mary 16.5, Southwick 7.5
St. Mary’s top two golfers, Noah Parker and Zach L. Brown boosted the Saints’ effort with a 37 and 39, respectively, at Tekoa. Jake Hough led Southwick with a 41.
GIRLS’ SOCCER
Pathfinder 2, Westfield Voc-Tech 1
Pathfinder tied the game in the 23rd minute and notched the game-winner about halfway into the second half at Jachym Field.
Voc-Tech’s Ashley Lees scored on a pass from Aedan Orr in the 19th minute. Megan Illnicky had seven saves in net for the Tigers.
East Longmeadow 3, Westfield 0
Gabby Weithoser scored a pair of first half goals for East Longmeadow, and Spartans goaltender Ann Stack (5 saves) pitched a shutout in net.
Amelia Tooker (8 saves) and Celina Nunez (4 saves) split time in net for Westfield.
Southwick 2, Lenox 2
Jess Teodore scored both goals for Southwick. Rams’ goalie Megan Zabik collected eight saves.
St. Mary 3, Putnam 0
Darby Bailey netted a hat trick (3 goals) with assists from Taylor Marshall, Ali Stanlewicz, and an unassisted effort at Blunt Park in Springfield.
FIELD HOCKEY
Westfield 6, Holyoke 0
Lexi Minicucci (2 goals, 2 assists), Jordan Swift (2 goals, 1 assist), Alex Affeldt (goal, assist), Mary Boudreau (goal), and Ashlee Owen (assist) contributed to Westfield’s offensive onslaught.
Jess Hale (0 saves) and Karly Mastello (0 saves) split time in goal for the Bombers, who were held together on defense by Rachel Szalankiewicz.
Westfield is one win away from a tournament berth.
BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY
Sci-Tech 21, St. Mary’s 34; Holyoke 15, St. Mary’s 116
Jose Batista ran well for St. Mary’s, placing eighth with a time of 19:02.
Southwick 26, South Hadley 30
Matt Sidler was the first Ram to cross the finish line.
GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY
Sci-Tech 19, St. Mary’s 36; Holyoke 15, St. Mary’s 63
St. Mary’s Abbie Rix finished eighth in 26:08.
South Hadley 18, Southwick 37
South Hadley took four of the top five spots but Southwick’s Emily McKinney managed to finish third overall with a come-from-behind effort. McKinney completed the race in 18:50.
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
Commerce def. Southwick 25-23, 17-25, 24-26, 25-13, 15-10
Commerce rallied from a 2 sets to 1 deficit to down Southwick.
Simone Thibault (8 kills, 4 aces, 7 digs), Hannah Sitler (8 kills, 2 blocks), and Jess Martin (9 assists, 4 aces, 3 kills) led Southwick.
JV GIRLS’ SOCCER
Southwick 3, Lenox 0
Megan Kuhn, Ashley Shea, and Sabrina Provost scored one goal apiece for Southwick, all unassisted goals. Rams’ goalie Ariel Bryant finished with three saves, and the shutout.
