Weekly Recap: 10/15-10/19

Wednesday, October 15
Varsity Badminton vs Hamden High: L 1-6

Varsity Field Hockey vs Loomis: L 0-6
Recap: Although the score was a bit lopsided, the Porter’s field hockey team managed to make some key improvements during the game on Wednesday. The passing and communication were better, but Loomis was able to put pressure on the defense from the starting whistle. With strong shots from the left and right, Loomis looked as good as any team that Porter’s has faced this year. Julia Moran ‘15 made 25 saves in goal, despite the loss. The Porter’s offense was unable to earn a corner or shot on goal, but the midfield play was much improved, even with a few key players either hurt or sick.

Varsity Soccer vs Loomis: T 0-0
Recap: The varsity soccer team took to the field against one of the top teams within Prep School Soccer on Wednesday. The squad looked organized and once they absorbed some early pressure the team grew in confidence and played with pace and tenacity. The communication levels were excellent and the desire and application from each player was there for all to see. With 12 minutes left, Porter’s nearly took all three points but for a brave save from the Loomis goalkeeper. The back four of Emily Wogelius ‘17, Sam Houle ‘17, Maddie Duchesneau ‘18 and Kenzie Armington ‘15 were superb and helped goalkeeper Naya Lipkens ‘18 to her third shutout of the season and second in a row. Sam Plourde ‘16, Kenzie Kievman ‘18 and Jennie VanMeter ‘16 worked tirelessly to assist the outstanding Katie Maher ‘15 in midfield. The forwards led by example and defended intelligently from the front imposing themselves from the very first whistle.

Varsity Volleyball vs Taft: L 1-3
Recap: A rough day for Porter’s serve receive saw it see-saw between 1.29 and 1.8 accross the 4-set match. With uncharacteristically poor serve receive to start Set 1, Porter’s found itself down 14-2 early, but managed to gain momentum leading into Set 2. Porter’s played well enough, but never quite up to our standards during the Set 2 win, and followed it up with another up-and-down performance in a Set 3 that saw Porter’s drop an 18-14 lead. Porter’s lost Set 3 25-20. Set 4 was a game of runs, with Taft continually gaining 4-5 point leads, though mostly through poor serve receive by Porter’s. Porter’s would answer each time by tying the match or gaining a one point lead only to relinquish it again. The set was knotted up last at 23-23 before Porter’s relinquished the final two points of the set.

Friday, October 17
Varsity Volleyball vs Convent of the Sacred Heart: L 0-3
Recap: Looking to bounce back from a Taft game that got away, Porter’s ran into a buzz saw of a Sacred Heart team that was firing on all cylinders. Porter’s serve receive held up well enough and served fairly aggressively, but everything Sacred Heart tried (including back row attacks against a tripple block) managed to find the open corners all night. A bit of bad luck for Porter’s, but hats off to Sacred Heart for putting together the best night of volleyball Porter’s has seen all year.

Saturday, October 18
Varsity Cross Country vs Westminster: W 25-34
Recap: The Porter’s cross country team secured their third victory in three weeks. Molly Kozlowski ‘16 placed second overall to lead the team. Audrey Jang ‘15 had an impressive kick to take third place overall. Victoria Apuzzo ‘17 (5th), Emma Watters ‘16 (7th), Abi Conner ‘17 (8th), Eliane Mitchell ‘15 (9th), and Layla Garyk ‘18 (10th) rounded out an impressive team effort. Porter’s now heads into the final, most challenging three weeks of the season. This was the second time that Porter’s competed at Westminster this year, and they will run there again in two weeks at the Founders League Championship.

Varsity Field Hockey vs Westover: L 1-2
Recap: Westover earned its first win against a team that has also struggled to get a win. Unfortunately, the visiting team got the better of Porter’s on the scoreboard, despite Porter’s outplaying them. Westover got their first goal 10 minutes into the first half with a beautiful shot and tip on an offensive corner. Porter’s threatened at the end of the half but was unable to get a goal in. The second half started the way the first ended, with Porter’s threatening, but again, Westover responded with another goal on a corner with 11 minutes left. Finally, the Porter’s offense broke through with a goal at 6 minutes left, but it was too little, too late.

Varsity Soccer vs Convent of the Sacred Heart: T 0-0
Recap: Porter’s varsity soccer took on its third Class A opponent in a row and managed to make it 3 games unbeaten. On Saturday afternoon the team finished with a 0-0 tie with Convent of the Sacred Heart. In the early stages the team dominated possession and looked very confident and focused when moving the ball. In the later stages of the first half Convent got to grips with the game and started imposing themselves, creating a few entries into our defensive third. After Sydni Scott ‘18 hit the crossbar she then had a header cleared off of the goal line. During the second half the whole team restricted Convent to only one real goal scoring opportunity which Naya Lipkens ‘18 tipped around the post. Porter’s varsity soccer has not conceded a goal in over 240 minutes of consecutive action, an outstanding statistic.

Varsity Volleyball vs Hopkins: L 2-3

Sunday, October 19
Varsity Equestrian - Daffoldil Hill Farm
Recap: Porter’s varsity equestrian team finished in 6th place overall. It was a great day with good effort. Team captain Catherine Ferri ‘16 started off the day a bit rocky with a horse that didn’t want to cooperate but she got back in the saddle and came away with a very good ride at 4th place in the Open Equitation division over fences and on flat in 6th. Susu McGrady ‘18 came away with 8th over fences and 6th on the flat in the Intermediate Equitation division. Abby Biddle ‘16, an experienced rider showing for the first time, did very well, earning 5th place. The final three riders, Ella Cowan de Wolf ‘16, Lillian Parrotta ‘18 and Gretchen Willmuth ‘18, finished in 7th, 3rd and 2nd respectively.