Fall Sports Highlights 10.22.18

On a perfect fall day, the Martlets ran fast on their home course. Perhaps they were excited to get to their fall weekend break, but it was impressive to see so many girls run their fastest on their home course. Annabelle Smith '21, Miranda Douglass '21 and Olivia Goldstuck '21 placed second, fifth and sixth in the tri-meet, all with their fastest times ever on their home course. Maggie Chaves '19 was next across the line for the Martlets followed by Bella Tawney '22 who knocked a whopping two minutes and 10 seconds off of her time on this course. Tawney has made incredible progress over the season. Taylor Hill '22 also dropped even more time; she was more than four minutes faster than the last time she ran this course. Anna Veber '21 also had a lifetime best at home. The Martlets were able to beat out Ethel Walker but were unable to defeat a deep Porter’s squad.

 

Westminster played superb field hockey to keep the scores goalless at half time. Early in the second half, Claire Taylor '21 made a superb run and cross to Tatum Courtmanche '21 who hit a brilliant first time sweep from distance directly into the corner of the goal. Deerfield equalized with a deflected shot 10 minutes later and then pulled ahead with a stroke with 15 minutes left on the clock. With nine shots to two, it was probably a fair result, though the Martlets might have scored a few more. Another great step forward for the team, and a solid performance from everyone on the field.

 

 

Deerfield started the game strong leaving Westminster on its heels. Kyani Jemmotte ‘20 played unbelievable in cage, keeping Westminster in the game. In the second half, Westminster found its groove and put pressure on Deerfield’s defense and goalie. Overall, a well-fought battle against a talented Deerfield team.

 

The Martlets played in front of a large crowd of parents on the evening of Oct. 19. Adjusting to the late start time and the cold weather proved to be a challenge and it took the squad a few minutes to kick into gear. Once they did, they were able to move the ball down the field and pass effectively. Ali Hatfield '20, Eliza Breen '22, Simonne Ponce '21 and Syndey Schuster '21 all did an excellent job communicating and moving the ball up the sidelines. Upland was able to capitalize on a corner half way through the first half to bring the score to 0-1, and then again in the second half, ending the game at 0-2.

Despite having possession the entire game and having multiple chances in the Martlet offensive end, Westminster First Girls’ Soccer could not come up with a goal during the 80-minute game against the visiting team from Kingswood Oxford. Westminster played excellent possession-based soccer throughout the contest, continuing to show its daily progress and improved play. There were chances in both halves and the game looked as though it would heavily favor the home Martlets. However, the one mistake the Martlets made was capitalized on by KO and, seven minutes into the second half, KO put one in the back of the net for the only goal of the game.

The Martlets got off the bus after a long drive and got to work quick as they were up 4-0 just 20 mins into the contest. The second half saw much of the same as many Martlets got off the bench and chipped in on the scorebook. Peyton Knauf '19 started the game and played 60 minutes and recorded two saves, as Tarek Mourad '19 would finish the game with one save. The team wrench would be passed on to Juan Jo Garibay '20 for his hard work in the midfield. The player of the game selected by the TP coaches would be Gabe Mays-Sanchez '22 for his two goals on the day.

 

Westminster hosted Avon — an always-heated matchup — on a great day for soccer. Both teams came out flying, playing some exciting soccer. Westminster would get on the board first, off a quick corner kick ball played in from Zach Papapetros '20 to oncoming Ryan Messina '20 who would finished in tight. Late in the first half, Westminster would be awarded a PK which Nathan Costantino '19 would hammer home to take a 2-0 lead into halftime. With a lot of soccer to be played in the second half, Avon would cut the lead to 2-1 with 30 minutes to go. Avon pushed hard late but it would be Matt Kramlich '21 who would score from just inside the 18-yard box to give the Martlets a 3-1 lead. The Beavers would make it interesting with less than six mins to go knocking a ball in the net off a scrum in front of the Martlets’ net. The team wrench would be pass to Peyton Knauf '19 who had a solid six saves on the day. Westminster's outstanding player selected by the Avon staff would be Costantino.

Second Girls’ Soccer played an outstanding game and nearly took down the undefeated Wyverns. With their passing game at its most impressive, the girls controlled the bulk of the play in the first half. Although they enjoyed a lopsided advantage in time of possession and advances into the attacking third, the girls did not score until the 37th minute, when Cecilia Raymond '20 poked a ball past a charging keeper and pushed it into the open net. The visitors came out applying pressure in the second half, but it was the Martlets who got on the board. In the 46th minute Susie Mahoney '20 drove the ball home after a shot by Lauren Way '20 deflected off the goalie's hands and the crossbar. Five minutes later Raymond notched her second of the day when another offering from Way resulted in a scramble in front of the net. The Wyvern pressure would finally bear fruit in the 53rd minute when their striker scored the first of her hat trick with a blast from long range. Her second came in similar fashion just six minutes later, while the equalizer was a converted penalty kick in the 65th minute. The hosts had three great chances to score the go-ahead goal in the last 15 minutes. Way sent another shot off the crossbar. Hailey Tullo '22 took a great shot that was tipped over the top by the KO keeper. And Mahoney was set up with under five minutes to go by a beautiful pass from Ridgely Green '20, but her shot went just wide. Goalkeeper Lili Birrell '22 took care of the Wyvern's best last chance when she snatched a corner kick out of the air. Although the girls were disappointed to let the win slip away, they can and should be proud of their performance.

 

Second Boys' Soccer traveled to Trinity-Pawling and eked out a good 2-1 victory. The team started on the back foot after a long drive and had to defend against heavy pressure. Jonah Prentiss '22 was once again imperious in defense. Prentiss’ tireless running and electric pace alone would cause trouble for most attackers, but it is his reading of the game that makes him such an effective player. Prentiss gave the Trinity-Pawling attackers very little room to play and helped to protect the slim lead. Westminster grew into the game and started to possess the ball more consistently in the opponent's half. Peter Sanger '21 worked hard in attack and made some smart runs off the ball. Sanger has improved considerably in recent weeks and he should be proud of his work. The first goal for Westminster was an own goal forced by great pressure from Wylie Clarke '21. Clarke had another great game and pulled the strings in midfield. The second Westminster goal came deep into the second half when Finn Gerry '20 scrambled the ball into the net and past the Trinity-Pawling keeper.

 

 

Third Girls' Soccer travelled to Hotchkiss for a match on a cool autumn afternoon. After giving up two quick goals, they kept the score at 2-0 for the remainder of the first half. They played a gritty aggressive game which saw some improved passing, especially in comparison to the first match up. Though the girls gave up two more goals in the second half, they played well.

 

In a thrilling Parents Weekend match, Third Girls' Soccer came out on top 1-0 over Deerfield. The first half saw the teams deadlocked at 0-0, but early in the second half, Ondine Finley '19 put a goal in the net with assists from Alex Wolf '19 and Clea Guerrand-Hermes '19. Fittingly enough, it was Senior Day on the team, and the pre-game included the under formers giving the Sixth Formers some thoughtful cards and tributes. The entire team played well, but the defense really stepped up their game, led by Tatiana Restrepo '22 and India Lalor '21.

Westminster kicked off Parents and Family Weekend with a come-from-behind victory over Deerfield Academy. Trailing 1-0 in the first half, Eugene Kim '19 finished a perfectly placed cross from fellow striker Ben Ferrell '21. But Kim wasn't finished. With ten minutes left in regulation, Kim received a nice through pass from Nate Swift '19, then cut through the Deerfield defense to easily score the go-ahead goal, his fourth of the season. Throughout the contest, Westminster's keepers, led by Cameron Jury '19, whose list of spectacular saves included one on a penalty kick, menaced Deerfield's attackers. In retrospect, after a lethargic first half in which Jury kept them alive, the Martlets surged in the second half, playing with the same collective urgency they started the season with. Also contributing to the win with their strong play and incessant hustle were midfielder Charlie von Stade '21, defender William Scott '20, midfielder Rex Flinn '21 and team captain and striker Drew Brownback '19.

 

Fourth Boys’ Soccer made the quick trip over to Granby Memorial High School on a windy, wet and cold day under the guidance of substitute coaches Wyatt Prominski, Kathleen Devaney and Willard Sistare. After a dead-heat, back and forth that saw strong ball movement from both sides, Charlie Pappas ’22 put in his first goal on the year off a tricky bounce that made it past the Granby keeper. The second half brought even more intensity, grit and physicality, as the Bears from Granby evened the score up on a PK, before taking the lead shortly thereafter. However, from then on out, Alex Unruh ’22 and the Westminster defense anchored by Ben Michaud ’22, Alex Tonioni ’22 and Matthew Westlake ’22 would cede nothing more, as they pushed the ball up the field in a tremendous fervor to tie the game. The team did just that on a beautiful ball off the foot of Brian Opdenaker ’21 in the waning minutes. The boys should be proud of the fight they displayed on a day when conditions were anything but ideal.

 

On a warm autumn day on Williams Hill, the boys battled a gritty group of Winged Beavers. Although Westminster had many opportunities to break the game open, the game ended in a 1-0 Martlet victory. Bennett Ostern ‘21 and Alex Unruh’22 combined for the shut out. Matthew Westlake ‘22, Ben Michaud ‘22 and Alex Tonioni ‘22 played spectacular defense for the Martlets. Peter Miller ‘22 and Baker Morton ‘22 set up several Westminster opportunities from the midfield. Midway through the first half it was Miller who put the Martlets on the board after receiving a long throw in from Morton. From that point on, the Westminster attack kept the pressure on the Beaver defense.