Weekly Sports Roundup: Danvers Girls Soccer Trips Marblehead, Ties Salem

GIRLS SOCCER Two days after taking down Marblehead in convincing fashion, the girl’s soccer team left Salem feeling a bit unfulfilled following Thursday night’s 1-1 draw with the Witches.

Despite controlling the tempo throughout, Danvers (2-0 NEC; 3-1-1 overall) was unable to finish and settled for the tie when Salem converted off a corner kick with six minutes to play. The Falcons generated eight corner kicks in the first half alone and scored with three minutes left in the half when Corey Persson headed in a cross from Alex Strangie.

“We struggled tonight in the attacking third. We passed and possessed the ball okay but lacked killer instinct inside Salem’s area. Give them credit – they defended hard,” said Danvers coach Jimmy Hinchion. “We let this one slip away – we should have gotten the two points.”

Against Marblehead, the Falcons overcame a slow start to open a 3-1 lead by halftime. Persson scored twice and assisted on Kylie Plaza’s goal late in the half. Kylie Kellard assisted on Persson’s first strike.

Marblehead scored late in the first half, and then closed to within a goal in the second before Persson completed a hat trick and secured the win, converting a Plaza set-up.

“Marblehead plays long ball we were letting them send long balls into our end. After about 10 minutes, we started to settle down and started maintaining possession. Once we started to play on the ground and pass the ball we really opened things up,” said Hinchion.

Renee Pohle and Katie McKenna performed well on the back line as did Kellard, Plaza and Strangie.

GOLF extended its season-opening winning streak to seven matches, sandwiching routs of Salem (45-27) and Gloucester (45 ½-26 ½) around Monday’s tightly contested 37 ½-34 ½ win at Winthrop.

No. 4 Colby Sedlier led the way past Winthrop with a 6-3 win at Winthrop Country Club. No. 6 Paul D’Orlando and No. 8 Nate Tarricone recorded 5 ½-3 ½ decisions and No. 2 Dan McKenna prevailed, 5-4.

No. 8 Matt Bay had the most impressive win against Salem in a match played at Ferncroft CC as he rolled to a 7 ½-1 ½ decision. No. 1 George Merry (5-4), No. 2 McKenna (6-3), No. 4 Sedlier (5 ½-3 ½), No. 5 Delaney (6-3) and No. 6 D’Orlando (6-3) also won while No. 3 Trenton King and No. 7 Kevin Daly halved their matches.

Danvers trekked to Bass Rocks CC on Tuesday and defeated Gloucester handily. Winners were No. 1 Marry (5 ½-3 ½), No. 3 Sedlier (7-2), No. 4 King (5 ½-3 ½), No. 5 Delaney (7 ½-1 ½), No. 6 D’Orlando (6 ½-2 ½) and No. 7 Bay (5-4). Daly halved his match at No. 8.

CROSS-COUNTRY opened the Catholic Conference dual meet campaign Tuesday with a 20-39 victory against Malden Catholic at Franklin Park in Boston.

MC’s Andrew Krause covered the 5K course in a winning time of 17:36, followed closely by the St. John’s pack. Sophomore Colin Monahan finished second overall in a time of 17:39 while Eagles’ senior captains Jake Smith and Tom Contois claimed the third and fourth spots. Only seven seconds separated the SJP trio. In the freshman race, winner Josh Raposa led the Prep to a convincing 17-47 win.

The Prep travels to Warwick, RI Saturday to compete in the Ocean State Invitational, which attracts some of the best teams from New England, New York and New Jersey every year. Dual meet competition continues next Tuesday against Xaverian at Bradley Palmer State Park.

GOLF picked up a pair of wins against Xaverian and St. Mary’s of Lynn but suffered its first defeat of the season at Barnstable this past Monday.

The host Red Raiders, like SJP a perennial State contender, shot lights out for a 226-233 win on their home course at Old Barnstable Fairgrounds GC. Prep co-captains Nick McLaughlin and Nick Pandelena both finished with 1-over par 37s while Tim Cunningham checked in with a 38 and Josh Wingardner shot 39. The teams have a rematch at Kernwood CC on Oct. 12.

SJP hammered Xaverian at Brook Meadow GC in Canton, 225-249. Pandelena and Cunningham both recorded 1-under par 35s. Sophomore Matt Bullock (37), senior Kevin Kerhulas (38) and the junior Windgardner (39) all cracked 40.

The Eagles had little trouble in a 220-251 dispatch of St. Mary’s at Gannon GC in Lynn. Eagles’ scorers were Pandelena (35), Windgardner (36), McLaughlin (37), Zane Quarantiello (37), Jeff O’Connoer (37) and Jake Danforth (38).

SOCCER pounded Catholic Memorial last Saturday, 7-1, then shut out chief rival B.C. High, 4-0, on Wednesday. The Eagles are now 3-0-0 in the Catholic Conference (3-0-1 overall) and have outscored league opponents, 12-1.

Senior Ryan McManus and junior Dean Ebbert both scored twice in the romp past CM. Senior captain Deklan Robinson, senior Max Cotton and junior Lev Kazelyan added single goals and senior Dan Terner contributed two assists. Senior keeper Andrew Evans had four saves for the win in his first varsity start.

McManus scored his fourth goal of the season, Robinson netted his second and sophomore Anthony Vigliotta tallied the first of his career to lead the Eagles past B.C. High. Senior Grant Bean also scored while Kazelyan, Cotton, Brooks Clark and Bryan Browne contributed assists. Junior keeper Brian Keogh stopped four shots for his second shutout of the year, supported by outside backs Jack Gourdeau and Carter Ocko.

Prep plays at Malden Catholic Saturday at noon.

FOOTBALL fell to 0-2 with a 7-6 OT loss to Central Catholic last Saturday night in Lawrence. Following a scoreless regulation CC scored on a 25-yard pass and tacked on the PAT kick on its OT possession. Jack Sharrio’s 10-yard run put SJP on the board but the Eagles’ two-point try for the win was stopped

Prep takes on EMass. power Everett tomorrow at home  (1:30 p.m.)