TMHS Field Hockey Team Blanks Dracut

For a while on Friday afternoon, field hockey coach Pat Ryser wondered if her team was ever going to score a goal.

after her team improved its record to 3-1 with a 3-0 win over Dracut. "We played great. We were all over them We were getting a ton of shots, but we kept hitting it right at their goalie. I couldn't believe nothing was going in."

Midway through the second half, however, finally found the back of the goal, and the Redmen added two more goals in the next 10 minutes to walk away with a convincing win.

Bourne scored the second goal seven minutes after her first, and senior midfielder Sheri Liggiero added an insurance goal three minutes after that. Sophomore Ashley Kelly assisted on Liggiero's goal.

"We had something like 35 shots on them in the game, but at halftime it was still 0-0," Ryser said. "But  luckily, in the second half, we finally came around and put it together."

Bourne's goals were her second and third of the season, tops on the team. Sophomore forward Hayley Sutherland assisted on both of Bourne's goals. Sutherland now has a goal and four assists on the year.

"Hayley is playing well," Ryser said. "She had a really good game. Her hits were right on."

Senior midfielder Sarah Hogan and junior defender Nicole McKenna also had strong games, according to Ryser. Riley Ryan earned the shut out in the Tewksbury goal.

The Redmen, now 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the Merrimack Valley Conference, host Chelmsford on Tuesday.

 TMHS VOLLEYBALLERS FIFTH AT MILFORD TOURNEY

mixed it up with some of the best high school volleyball teams in the state at the Milford Invitational Tournament on Saturday, and the Redmen represented Tewksbury well, taking fifth place in a talented 10-team field.

"We played very, very well all day," said TMHS coach Jim Ray. "We were up against a lot of very talented teams and we scored a ton of points."

Tewksbury played two sets each against four different opponents. The Redmen split with Medway, winning the first set 25-23 and losing the second set by the same score, 25-23.

Tewksbury also split with host Milford, winning 25-18 and losing 25-16. The Redmen took two sets from Shepherd Hills, 25-18 and 25-20, then lost 25-21 and 25-18 to eventual tournament winner Lincoln-Sudbury.

"I'd say Lincoln-Sudbury is on the same par with Andover and Barnstable; they're one of the top two or three teams in the state, and we held our own agaisnt them," Ray said. "We showed we have the ability to play against teams of that calibre."

Senior hitter Alina Rosmarinofski had another strong day recording 13 kills, five access and six service points. Senior hitter Allie Luppi had eight kills and an ace, while junior hitter Kelli Sugrue notched six kills, five aces and four service points. Jenn Ianacci had eight kills, three from blocks.

Setters Jess Bridle and Liz McVeigh had solid days all around, with Bridle recording seven service points and two kills.

"Jess and Liz were impeccable," Ray said. "They did a tremendous job handling the ball and running the offense for us. They were awesome."

Grace Carew had a strong defensive game and recorded four service points while Alyson Mulloy had five service points and an ace. Missy Cordwell had six kills, while Tiffanie Marsh, playing in her first match of the season, played well defensively.

Tewksbury hits the road this week for games in Methuen on Wednesday and Haverhill on Friday.

GIRLS SOCCER TEAM SUFFERS FIRST LOSS

team came up against a fast, athletic and physical Newburyport team and lost a 1-0 decision in a non-league contest on Saturday.

Redmen goaltender Rebecca Davies was under pressure for the entire game, but held her ground until Newburyport scored off a corner kick midway through the second half.

Tewksbury almost tied the score late in the game when Aly Spencer made a nice run upfield, and passed to Nicole Chaet who sent sophomore striker Kashka Gammon in alone. But the Newburyport keeper made a one-handed save off Gammon's shot, and the Clippers prevailed.

Senior defender Denali Murphy got her first start of the year and played well, as did sophomore defenders Olivia Gallella and Meaghan Blaisedell, along with senior defender Meghan Bouthot. Midfielders Caitlyn Ludka and Sara Semenza also had strong defensive games.

Tewksbury, now 2-1 overall and 2-0 in the Merrimack Valley Conference, returns to MVC action on Tuesday evening with a 6:00 p.m. game at Lowell.