Islanders Off To Fast Starts in Fall Season

sports teams enjoyed a majority of successes last week during the first week of regular-season play for the 2011 fall season.

FOOTBALL

Middletown launched its 2011 schedule with a 27-12 non-league road triumph over Division IV Central Falls High. The Islanders held a tenuous 13-12 advantage after three quarters before scoring twice in the final session to ice the win.

Middletown’s potent ground attack produced touchdowns by Cody Cruz (12 yards), Randolph Butler (2 yards), Kevin Nash (4 yards) and Connor Russ (60 yards). Cruz also kicked an extra point for the winners and Justin Sellar added a two-point conversion rush.

BOYS’ SOCCER

Coventry netted a first-half goal and made it stand up the rest of the way to nip Middletown, 1-0, in a Division II-South match. Islander goalie Kyle Hassan was credited with 12 saves.

Middletown had opened its regular-season schedule earlier by thrashing Warwick Vets High, 5-0, thanks to 2 goals by Ryan Hetland and single scores from Jeremy Frank, Ryan Bertsch and Joe Rutledge. Dennis Turano notched 2 assists for the winners and teammates Rutledge, Dan Coogan and Felipe Penaranda earned 1 assist apiece. Islander keepers Hassan (3) and Jonathan Hebel (1) collaborated for 4 saves.

GIRLS’ SOCCER

The high-scoring Islanders ran rampant over Central High of Providence, 10-1, in a Division III match. Middletown ran up a 6-1 edge by the break and poured it on in the second period.

Erin Traeger scored 3 goals for the winners, while teammates Nina Traglia, Chelsea Dowler and Carla Peter all chipped in with 2 goals and Elizabeth Durgin added 1 goal. Keeper Kaitlyn Griffith was credited with 6 saves.

Earlier, the Islanders launched their Division III regular-season schedule by thrashing Mount Pleasant High of Providence, 6-1, at home, using a five-goal blitz in the second half to rout the Kilties. Durgin (3) and Kenleigh Hebel (2) combined for five goals for Middletown, Jane Serenska added the other goal, and Traglia (2) and Peter (1) totaled three assists. Griffith was forced to make just one save to earn the win.

GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL

Host Our Lady of Fatima High of Warren put a damper on Middletown’s season debut, nipping the Islanders, 3-2 (25-15, 18-25, 27-25, 13-25, 15-11), in a marathon Division II-South encounter.

GIRLS’ TENNIS

The Islanders opened their regular-season schedule on a successful note, nipping host Chariho Regional High, 4-3, in a Division II-South encounter. Middletown posted its winning margin by sweeping the four singles’ matches behind No. 1 Kristin Bertsch (6-0, 6-0), No. 2 Sarah Bertsch (7-5, 7-5), No. 3 Katie Benson (7-5, 6-4) and No. 4 Madeleine Molenda (6-0, 6-0).