Sports Roundup: Danvers Golfers Off to a Swinging Start With Four Wins

Following Wednesday’s takedown of Wakefield in a non-league match at Ferncroft Country Club, the Danvers High golf team stands at 4-0 (2-0 NEC) with three victories by the same 39-33 score.

The middle of the lineup powered the Falcons against Wakefield as No. 3 Colin Delaney (5-4), No. 4 Colby Sedl1er (6-3), No. 5 Trenton King (7-2), No. 6 Paul D’Orlando (6-3) and No. 7 Kevin Daly (5-4) all prevailed. No. 1 George Merry, the 2010 NEC Player of the Year, halved his match.

Tuesday’s non-league match against the Cape Ann League’s Triton was scored using the quota point system and the Falcons registered a convincing 160-130 win at Ferncroft. King (36-24), Merry (34-24), Sedlier (27-22) and D’Orlando (26-21) picked up Danvers’ wins.

Danvers recorded 39-33 decisions of Marblehead on Sept. 6 at Ferncroft and Beverly on Sept. 8 at Beverly Golf & Tennis. McKenna (5 ½-3 ½), Delaney (5-4), King (6-3) and D’Orlando (8-1) picked up wins against Marblehead while Merry and Sedlier halved their matches. McKenna (5 ½-3 ½), Delaney (6 ½-2 ½), Sedlier (6-3), King (6 ½-2 ½) and D’Orlando (5-4) were victorious against Beverly.

GIRLS SOCCER opened the season with solid non-league win against Gloucester (4-1) and North Andover (2-0) before running into a buzz saw in last night’s 4-1 loss to defending Division 1 State Champion Central Catholic of Lawrence.

Central took a 1-0 lead in the game’s third minute, converting a direct free kick. The Falcons matched that two minutes later when sophomore Stephanie Kowalski blasted home a Meghan Kenny set-up. Central, though, took the lead for good in the 10^th minute and led 3-1 at the half.

“They were as advertised, very strong defensively. They had good size all over the field and were very quick. We'll learn from this. Playing against this kind of competition will only help us improve,” said Coach Jimmy Hinchion.

In Tuesday’s home opener, the Falcons turned in a stout defensive effort against North Andover. Mia Koutoulas registered seven saves for the shutout and Danvers limited NA to two second-half shots. Kristin Yost from Corey Persson, scored the eventual game-winner in the game’s 13^th minute. Kylie Plaza netted her second of the season off a direct kick with four minutes left in the half.

“We played much better in the second half. I was happy how we held onto the lead and kept the shutout intact. Katie McKenna gave us a big boost off the bench on defense. We needed someone that could get some distance on our goal kicks and she delivered. Renee Pohle also stepped up when starting defender Brittney Zecha left with an injury,” said Hinchion, who also lauded the play of Katelyn Bates before she too left with an injury.

Persson (2 goals), Plaza (goal, 2 assists) and Kenny (goal) supplied the offense in the Falcons’ season-opening win at Gloucester. The back line of Jackie Morse, Erin Loehner, Yost and Brittney Zecha excelled while Yost controlled the midfield with her ability to win 50/50 balls.

BOYS SOCCER dropped last Saturday’s season opener at Lynnfield, 4-1. The Falcons couldn’t dig themselves out of a 3-0 halftime hole, misfiring on a number of quality scoring chances. Junior captain Eric Martin scored the lone goal on a header off Ethan Tye’s corner kick.

“We gave up a penalty kick early. We pressured them the entire game and my guys never gave up. We missed a penalty kick and hit post. It would have been a different game had we capitalized on our opportunities in the offensive end. We missed on five or six chances that should have been goals. We need to finish the ball to be successful and we were unable to make that happen,” said Coach Mike Chase.

The Falcons finished with authority in a as Martin and senior Jon Amico both had hat tricks and Tye delivered two assists.

The Eagles SOCCER team opened the season last Saturday, claiming the Forstenberg Cup for the sixth time in seven years by defeating sister school Xavier (CT), 4-3, in a game decided by penalty kicks. The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) does not recognize regular-season overtime results and the game counts as a tie on the Eagles’ record.

Deadlocked at 3-3 following regulation, the teams played two 10-minute overtimes before the Prep prevailed in PKs, 6-5. Junior keeper Brian Keogh’s stop on Xavier’s sixth spot kick settled it. Senior Grant Bean scored twice and senior Dan Terner added a single goal. Ryan McManus and Carter Ocko picked up assists.

The Eagles began Catholic Conference play Wednesday with a 1-0 road win at Xaverian. The senior striker McManus converted on a header off a cross from senior back Jack Gourdeau for the game’s lone goal three minutes into the game. And Keogh (3 saves) recorded the shutout.

Coach Dave Crowell cited the strong play of the back line of Gourdeau, Deklan Robinson, Carter Ocko, Jamie Santo and Matt Brady as well as midfielder Grant Bean. St. John’s (1-0-1) hosts Catholic Memorial in its home opener tomorrow morning (10 a.m.).

A remarkable performance by the GOLF team produced an eight-shot victory against defending Catholic Conference champion BC High Wednesday at Wollaston Country Club. SJP fired an aggregate team score of 231, their lowest score ever at WCC.

Co-captain Nick Pandelena led the way with a 3-under round of 33 that included two birdies and an eagle on the par-5 eighth hole. Co-captain Nick McLaughlin, the two-time State Junior Champion, checked in with a 1-under 35. Tim Cunningham followed with 37 and Matt Bullock and Kevin Kerhulas both shot 38.

On Tuesday, SJP rolled past Malden Catholic, 240-260, at Salem Country Club. McLaughlin led the Eagles with a 37 followed by sophomore Matt Bullock’s 39. Pandelena, Cunningham, Brandon Bingel and Jeff O'Connor all shot 41.

The Eagles opened the season on Wednesday, Sept. 7 with a 240-242 victory over perennial power St. John's (Shrewsbury) at rainy and wet Salem Country Club. McLaughlin led the Eagles with a 1-under 34. Cunningham shot 39 and Pandelena had a 40.

CROSS-COUNTRY ran well at last Saturday’s Clipper Relays at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport. Three-man teams competed with each member running a two-mile leg. The Eagles’ “A” team of seniors Jake Smith and Tim Contois and junior Tom O’Shea finished 12^th overall and an all-sophomore “B” group of Colin Monahan, Tim Loehner and Tom Jackson placed 18^th. SJP teams also finished 39^th, 56^th, 78^th and 125^th.  SJP begins defense of its Catholic Conference championship next Tuesday against Malden Catholic.

FOOTBALL fell to Dracut, 13-7, for the third straight time dating back to 2007 as the visitors opened a 13-0 halftime lead. Prep’s Alex Moore scored on a one-yard run with just under three minutes to play and Connor Shaw added the PAT but Dracut killed the remainder of the clock. Senior quarterback Tommy Gaudet had a 105 yards total offense but Prep’s ground game struggled to gain footing against the Dracut defense. St. John’s plays at Central Catholic Saturday night (7, Lawrence Memorial Stadium).