Defense Stands Tall Again, Redmen Top Lowell, 2-0

After losing its entire defensive back four to graduation last year, the concern for the Tewksbury High girls soccer team this fall was whether or not the Redmen would be able to keep the opposition off the scoreboard.

Worry no more.

Through four games, the youthful TMHS defense has allowed just one goal, while compiling a 3-1 record so far.

On Tuesday night, the Redmen earned their third shutout in four tries, holding Lowell to just four shots on goal in a 2-0 victory under the lights at Cawley Stadium. Sophomores Meaghan Blaisdell, Kelly Quigley and Olivia Gallella combined with senior defender Megan Bouthot and midfielders Maria Correa, Caitlyn Ludka and Jordyn LeBlanc to keep the Lowell attack in check all night.

"We're doing what we're supposed to do," said TMHs coach Jeff Keefe. "We're staying back, not over-stepping the ball and not creating opportunities for the other team to take advantage of us. As long as we stay sound fundamentally, we'll be able to keep the other team off the board."

Junior center midfielder Nicole Chaet scored the eventual game winner with 10 minutes to play in the first half, and sophomore striker Aly Spencer added an insurance goal with five minutes to play as the Redmen kept their Merrimack Valley Conference record perfect at 3-0.

Chaet now has four goals and two assists from the center mid spot.

"She's evolving as a player at an incredible rate," Keefe said of Chaet. "She knows when to attack, when to defend and her being able to control the middle of the field is a key to our success."

Spencer's goal was her team-leading sixth of the season. and recorded her third shut out of the young season.

Tewksbury will put it's unbeaten MVC mark on the line at home on Thursday afternoon against Billerica at the Livingston Street fields. It's a position that first-year coach Keefe is very satisfied to be in.

"Satisfied is definitely the word," Keefe said. "If you're not losing you can't be anything but that. There's always things you can work on, there's always things you can get better at, but from where we are right now, we can't complain."

FIELD HOCKEY TEAM DROPS 3-1 DECISION TO CHELMSFORD

ran into another talented and speedy Merrimack Valley Conference opponent on Tuesday, dropping a 3-1 decision to undefeated Chelmsford

The visiting Lions scored two first half goals and added a third midway through the second half to build a 3-0 lead before junior forward Natalie Bourne scored with five minutes to play to help Tewksbury avoid the shut out. Sophomore forward Hayley Sutherland had the assist.

Bourne leads the Redmen with four goals on the season while Sutherland is the team's leading scorer with a goal and five assists.

"Nat and Hayley are really working well together," Ryser said. "Natalie is just a fiesty player. She's really aggressive around the goal."

Chelmsford, however, had a decided advantage in time of possession. The Lions are now 4-0 on the season.

"Chelmsford was just really fast and they have some talented players with some really good skills," "I knew we would have trouble with them."

Tewksbury's record now stands at 3-2 overall and 2-2 in the MVC. The road does not get easier for the Redmen as they play Central Catholic at Amesbury Sports Park on Thursday.