Fall Sports Highlights 9.17.18

The annual start for the XC season is a 5K "scrimmage" at Choate, which means no team scores are calculated. This meet allows Westminster’s harriers to shake the rust out of their racing strides and see where they are after a summer of generally long and slow distance. The team had some very promising results. The crew of veterans who had been training over the summer demonstrated their fitness by largely crushing their times from 2017. Co-captain Emmett de Kanter '19 led the pack by breaking 17 minutes on this challenging course. He was followed by co-captain Justin Schuster '19, who started where he finished last season as a legitimate top-of-the-pack runner; Schuster was one of three veteran runners who were over a minute faster than last year. Kieran Haug '21 was right behind him, and Daniel Pinckney '20, co-captain Elliott Kennard '19, Will Rizzo '21 and Alex Ellis '20 rounded out the top seven. This group of seven runners will be representing Westminster at Canterbury next weekend. The team has some exciting novice talent as well as some veterans who were in the Second team group. Newcomer Brendan Greene '20 had a strong second half of the race, demonstrating both grit and speed. Nate Chaves '19 improved on last year's finish, and these two were joined by Raymond Liu '22, Hudson Stedman '21, Grant Pietri '22 and David DeFronzo '19 in running a sub-eight pace on this challenging course. Westminster also had good first efforts from novices Kellen Seeley '22, Sean Gregg '22, James Beit '22 and Isaac Mullen '22.

 

Sept. 15: Field Hockey - First Girls’ 2 vs. Ethel Walker School 3

Westminster played superb field hockey but struggled to convert a dominant first half. Ethel Walker rallied hard in the second half, balancing the game with two goals and ultimately scoring a winner to make it 3 to 2. Westminster shot 24 versus Ethel Walker’s five, but goals were harder to come by for the Martlets. Strong signs for the season ahead, but a tough result to swallow for the opening game of the season.

 

Westminster Opens Up Season with Tough Loss on the Road

First Girls’ Soccer traveled to Northfield Mount Hermon to open up play for the fall 2018 season. NMH got on the board early, 10 minutes into the first half, but the Martlets remained in the game, playing smart soccer to maintain possession. The Martlets were down by just the one goal when the teams broke for half with promise of a Westminster comeback. Two minutes into the second half, NMH netted its second goal. Westminster answered, however, with a goal from deep in the right corner by captain Blake Cote ‘19 to lessen the deficit. The team had a lot of chances and maintained possession much of the second half, but NMH capitalized on the lapses and netted four more goals. Westminster did not quit and with 13:45 left in the game, Olivia Dague ‘19 found captain Georgia Swank ‘19 for the final goal of the game into the side netting.

 

Second Girls’ Soccer got off to a good start with a shutout win at NMH. On a hot afternoon, everyone was called upon to play significant minutes, and the girls put in a strong team effort. The scoring was provided by veteran players, starting with Tori Kline '19, whose well-placed free kick in the 28th minute found its way through several defenders on its way to the net. Ridgely Green '20 doubled the lead in the 35th minute with a one-time redirect from outside the box that found the upper 90. Susie Mahoney '20 closed out the scoring in the 56th minute, putting home a nifty through ball from Lauren Way '20, for her second assist of the day. Several newcomers had auspicious debuts, while several returners made important impacts in new positions.

 

The opening game of Second Boys’ Soccer season was well played by both sides. The Westminster boys finished the first half well as they started to find new teammates on the field. Henry Mitrano '19 enjoyed a number of dangerous runs down the left wing, while Linc Dines ’21 exhibited both grit and grace on the right as he pressed the opposition or worked his way into great positions for the team. Jonah Prentiss '22 worked well with Tyler Kinney '19 in the back line to keep the score line close. This first game revealed great character within the team and gave the coaches a glimpse of its potential.

 

Despite the hot and humid weather, Westminster outlasted the NMH squad 4-2. The team controlled the tempo and pace of the game from start to finish. Olivia Chou ‘20 played outstanding defense. In the second half the offense controlled the field, and two goals broke a 2-2 tie: Alex Wolf '19 and Ondine Finley '19 on a remarkable penalty kick that found its way to the upper corner of the net.

 

Westminster controlled play against a young-yet-skillful Loomis Chaffee squad. With 10 minutes left in the first half, Eugene Kim '19 netted his first goal of the season when he found an open window from the edge of the box. Moments later, Nate Swift '19 followed his own miss with a tenacious effort and strike that proved to put the Martlets up for good. Jackson Schopp ‘19, William Mazzaro ‘21 and William Scott ‘20 anchored Westminster’s tough, stingy defense. The home team also received notable performances from Ben Ferrell '21 and Drew Brownback '19.