SHS Sports Roundup: Sept. 12-18

After an opening week of fall sports that saw the Stoneham High School football team finally get an old monkey off its back by picking up the program’s first win since 2008 with a narrow 17-16 victory over Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School, coming up with an encore performance proved to be a tall order.

The Spartans (1-1) fell just shy of the summit, losing 30-26 against Boston Latin on Sept. 16. Adding insult to injury was the fact that Stoneham jumped out to a 26-0 lead before Boston Latin’s Jhalen Bien-Aime erupted for four second-half touchdowns to propel the Wolfpack (2-0) to a dramatic come-from-behind victory.

Stoneham’s offense was provided by Andrew Cann, who scored on a 1-yard run in the opening frame, Aaron Lewis, who hauled in a 72-yard pass from Anthony Adonidis for a touchdown, Dylan Owens, who snapped off an 80-yard punt return and Eric DeMario, who had a 15-yard touchdown reception.

The Spartans face another non-league test next week, as they take on Brighton.

Cross-Country

Boys

Stoneham’s boys' cross-country team began its season on Sept. 15, but suffered a setback at the hands of Winchester in the form of a 46-17 loss. The Spartans return to action on Sept. 20 against Belmont.

Girls

The Stoneham girls team didn’t do much better than the boys, falling to Winchester, 35-24. The Lady Spartans return to the track on Sept. 20 versus Belmont.

Field hockey

Stoneham is still looking for its first win of the year on the field hockey pitch, but the Lady Spartans did pick up another draw—and another point—last week.

First the bad news: The Belmont Marauders stuck Stoneham with a 2-1 loss on Sept. 13, before the Lady Spartans could regroup and salvage a point on the road against Arlington on Sept. 15.

Golf

The Spartans had a marathon schedule last week, playing three days in a row. The team’s first win, however, has proven elusive.

On Sept. 13, Stoneham took on Winchester and the Sachems came out on top with a 52-20 victory. Then, the following day, the Spartans dropped both ends of a dual-meet, falling 45-27 to Melrose and 46-26 to Watertown. Finally, Belmont hammered the Spartans, 60-22, on Sept. 15 ending a tough week for the Spartans.

Soccer

Boys

The Spartans (1-1-2) took on Middlesex League newcomers Arlington on Sept. 14, and were able to record a convincing 3-0 victory.

Next on the docket was another newcomer to the division, the Wilmington Wildcats. The new kids on the block proved that they were no pushovers, holding the Spartans to a scoreless draw at North Intermediate School on Sept. 14. The Spartans had the lion’s share of possession, but couldn’t find the quality in the final third to pick up all the points and was settled for just one.

Girls

The Stoneham girls have gotten off to a great start this year, and currently sit atop the Middlesex League Small School Division standings with an overall record of 2-0-2.

They took on the two fresh faces on the Middlesex League scene, Arlington and Wilmington, and earned a win and a draw, respectively.

On Sept. 13, Ali Kruse netted a pair of goals as the Lady Spartans held off the Arlington Spy Ponders, 2-1, in Arlington.

Meanwhile, on Sept. 15, the Wilmington Wildcats held Stoneham to a scoreless draw in Stoneham.

Volleyball

The Lady Spartans (3-0) scored a 3-0 win over Belmont on Sept. 12, winning by set scores of 25-16, 25-10 and 25-16.

(Submissions to the sports roundup can be sent to a.jeromski@gmail.com)