Redmen Roundup: Field Hockey Tops Lowell For Sixth Straight Win

Talk about peaking at the right time.

coach Pat Ryser couldn't ask for anything more out of her high-rolling Redmen as they completed a flawless run of six victories in eight days with a 3-0 whitewashing of Lowell High Friday afternoon at Cawley Stadium.

continued to play some of the finest field hockey in the Merrimack Valley Conference, scoring two goals for the second straight game to lead the Redmen to their sixth straight win.

"Sheri was on fire once again," Ryser said. "When she's on (artificial) turf she's practically unstoppable with her speed and her stick work. We're really coming together as a team lately. We're on a roll."

assisted on both of Liggiero's goals and scored the team's other goal, assisted by Liggiero.

Sophomores Ashley Kelly, Bridget Casey and Kelsie Bradley played well for Tewksbury, as did senior defender Adrianna Brown.

"The young kids have really stepped up and taken their place on this team," Ryser said. "We've been on a roll since the Central game and yesterday we really looked good, especially on the turf. Our passing was very good."

Tewksbury now awaits the MIAA's announcement of the Division 2 North Sectional tournament pairings on Monday or Tuesday. The Redmen will likely begin tournament play on Wednesday.

Ryser is hopeful that the team's 12-4-2 record will earn Tewksbury a home game in the first round. But with snow predicted for the weekend, it's possible that the first round games will have to be played on neutral sites with artificial turf.

"Either way, we're fine," Ryser said. "A home game wouold be great, but the way we played on turf (Friday), we'd be happy to play on turf again." 

GIRLS SOCCER TEAM CONTINUES TO STUMBLE

The Tewksbury High girls soccer team's late-season woes continued on Friday as the Redmen lost a 2-1 decision to Chelmsford in a game played at the Sal Frasca soccer complex.

Tewksbury gave up a goal just two minutes into the first half, but the Redmen tied the game at 1-1 midway through the first half when collected a loose ball in Chelmsford's defensive third. Chaet knocked the ball home for her eighth goal of the season.

Chelmsford pressed the attack throughout the second half, and T did everything in her power to keep the  Lions at bay, making several spectacular saves. Davies couldn't do it alone, however, and Chelmsford scored the game winner with eight minutes to play in the game.

The loss officially eliminates the Redmen from the Merrimack Valley Conference Division 2 championship race. Their record falls to 9-6-1. Tewksbury is now winless in its last three games. Coach Jeff Keefe's team limps toward the MIAA tournament with a 4-5-1 record in its last 10 contests.

Weather permitting, the Redmen finish out the regular season hosting Amesbury on Monday and undefeated Andover on Wednesday.

VOLLEYBALLERS CLOSE IN ON DIVISION TITLE

Tewksbury High's girls volleyball team moved one step closer to its first-ever Merrimack Valley Conference Division 2 championship Friday evening with a 3-1 win over Lowell High.

The win was the team's sixth in a row and it improves TMHS's record to 13-4. The Redmen need only one more victory, in the team's season finale, to capture first place in the league's small school division for the first time in school history. The Tewksbury girls will get that opportunity Tuesday night in Lawrence when they face Dracut in the MVC Division 2 jamboree.

Against Lowell, Tewksbury won the first two sets easily, 25-7 and 25-9, before losing the third set 16-25. The Redmen wrapped up the win with a 25-7 romp in the fourth set.

"We had a chance to use a lot of younger players," TMHS coach Jim Ray said. "We put all of our seniors in for the second set and still won easily. We use all of our juniors in the third set, and we still did fairly well. We put the starters back in for the fourth set and just put 'em away."

Senior outside hitter Allie Luppi led Tewksbury with five kills and 16 digs. Alina Rosmarinofski had three kills, two aces and 18 digs. Grace Carew had 16 digs and setters Jess Bridle and Liz McVey had five kills each. Sophomore setter Jen Cabbucci also played well. Ray hopes to wrap up the championship on Tuesday and hang a banner on the gym wall.

"The girls are looking forward to their chance to win a championship," Ray said. "they really want to hang that banner." Tewksbury, which has already qualified for state tournament play, will learn where it is seeded in the Division 2 North Sectional bracket on Wednesday.