SPRINGFIELD – The fountain of youth apparently blessed the Westfield Voc-Tech boys’ soccer team with an abundance of riches.
Voc-Tech, playing a handful of freshmen due to preseason injuries, pulled off a huge 2-1 come-from-behind win over Putnam on the road in its season opener yesterday. The Tigers scored two goals in the final 15 minutes to cap the comeback.
“The kids were resilient,” said Westfield Voc-Tech coach Kyle Dulude. “They never quit.”
Trailing 1-0 late in the second half, Voc-Tech worked the ball around to the top of the box where Alex Makarchuk delivered a through-ball to Colin Fecteau who hit the ball hard around the Putnam goaltender for a 1-1 tie with 13 minutes remaining.
Then, with just seven minutes left, Dimitriy Stetanchuk took a pass from Teter Melnick from about 25 yards out, shook off a defender, and found the top right corner for the game-winner.
“It was a total team effort,” coach Dulude said. “Our conditioning was good. …We were able to get by them at the end of the game.”
Senior fullback Nelson Roque was one of the lone upperclassmen manning the defense. Roque was surrounded by three freshmen – fullbacks Matt Wood and Tyler Hall, and halfback Dominic Rosario.
The freshmen were pressed into service when five Voke players went down to injuries during preseason. Three players from the Tigers were in street clothes Friday.
Voc-Tech dominated the first half, but found itself tied at the half. Putnam took the lead with 20 minutes left in the second half.
Tigers’ sophomore goalie, now in his second full season on varsity, finished with nine saves.
Notes: Westfield Voc-Tech has just three seniors and two juniors on the 2012 roster.
Westfield 1, Northampton 1
Matt Lacroix, moved out of his defensive position to help out on offense, beat a couple defenders inside and drilled the ball inside the far post 40 seconds into the second half.
It was the second straight tie for Westfield (0-0-2) to begin the 2012 season.
Westfield goalie Sam Blake made 12 saves, including two big ones down the stretch to preserve the tie.
“Two ties coming out of the league to start off the league is not a bad result,” Westfield coach Gabe Crane said. “To get those points is big and to have a non-losing record is too.”
HS ROUNDUP
GIRLS’ SOCCER
Southwick 6, Holyoke 1
Izzy Burns and Paige Cool scored two goals apiece, and Jess Teodore and Morgan Harriman had one each for Southwick. Teodore also had two assists. Cool had one, as did Hailee Hart and Cassey Bay.
Rams’ goalie Megan Zabik made eight saves.
JV GIRLS’ SOCCER
Holyoke 2, Southwick 0
Goalie Ariel Bryant made three saves in a losing effort for Southwick.
FIELD HOCKEY
Westfield 1, Agawam 1
Jordan Swift scored on a pass from Mary Boudreau for Westfield’s lone goal. Agawam’s Kacey Noonan scored unassisted with two minutes left to force the tie.
“Westfield would have liked the win, but we’ll take the tie,” said Westfield coach Karen Gomez, whose team dominated the second half.
Westfield midfielders Rachel Szalankiewicz and Monica Browne controlled the play.
Agawam goalie Jordan Conway finished with 15 saves.
JV FIELD HOCKEY
Westfield 6, Agawam 0
Cara Onyski (2 goals), Desiree Otero, Gabbi Lunardini, Liz Marcyoniak, and Brooke Keeney each scored for Westfield, which improved to 2-0.
Goalies Lexi Levere and Jourdan Frisbee, and defenders Kat Cepek, Christina Onyski, Rachel Gelina, Meg Parent, Grace Silva, and Maddie Brockney silenced the Agawam attack.
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
Belchertown def. Westfield 21-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-17, 15-8
Simone Thibault (7 kills, 8 digs), Milan Andreoli (6 kills, 5 digs), Jess Martin (9 assists, 7 aces) led Southwick, which wasted a 2-0 lead. Kim Drawec (8 aces, 5 kills) and Caroline Dziel (27 digs, 1 ace) helped fuel Belchertown’s come-from-behind win.
The Southwick JV team also lost in three straight sets.
GOLF
St. Mary 22, Ware 2
Noah Parker (38) and Zach L. Brown (37) had the best outings for St. Mary’s on the par-35 course.
LATE RESULTS
JV BOYS’ SOCCER
Southwick 1, Holyoke 0
Brandon Smith scored unassisted in the final minute to defeat Holyoke in stunning fashion.
