In last weekend’s Clipper Relays, Marblehead girls cross country coach Will Herlihy said, “This was far and away the best team showing I’ve seen since I started coaching at Marblehead.”
Marblehead entered five teams in a field of 98. Each team had three runners, and each runner completed a 2-mile loop. The Magicians’ top squad finished fifth. The trio of Norah Walsh (13:00), Sarah Munroe (12:16) and Marri O’Connell (12:04) combined for a time of 37:20.
Eight Marblehead runners improved their 2-mile times from two weeks ago: Sophia Letwin (minus 1:49), Nadia Siragusa (minus 1:30), Patty Windsor (minus 1:17), Izzy Anaya Lanzillo (minus 1:06), Ginny Donato (minus 1:05), Walsh (minus 0:34), Evelina Beletsky (minus 0:24), and Ava Bannister (minus 0:20).
CROSS COUNTRY
St. John’s Prep 15
St. John’s Shrewsbury 49
On St. John’s Prep’s home course of Bradley Palmer State Park (5K), the Eagles were led by Jack McIntosh (17:05), Liam Mahoney (17:16), Mateo DeOrio (17:25), Leo Seltenrich (17:28), Liam Callahan (17:38), and Hunter Opal (17:40).
BOYS SOCCER
St. John’s Prep 5
Catholic Memorial 0
St. John’s Prep (2-0-1) had its offense clocking in Tuesday’s Catholic Conference triumph. Better yet, five Eagles found the back of the net: James Minor, Ryan King, Noah Lear, Breccan Curran, and JJ Koulalis. Owen Beeney and Garrison Murphy each had two assists, while Matt Droggitis (6 saves) stayed hot with his third consecutive shutout.
Marblehead 3
Swampscott 0
Marblehead earned an archrivalry win on the road. Ilan Druker set up Miles Fontella-Tuttle for an early 1-0 lead three minutes in. Then, 18 minutes into the second half, Druker hit a powerful shot past the Big Blue’s keeper to make it 2-0. The Magicians added a third late in the game to earn bragging rights over their Northeastern Conference foes.
St. John’s Prep 0
Brookline 0
St. John’s Prep played to a scoreless draw Saturday afternoon. Droggitis made five saves for his second straight shutout to open the season.
Midfielders Beeney and Finn McCabe, along with Minor, all “played well,” according to Eagles’ coach Dave Crowell.
Marblehead 4
Masconomet 3
In a back-and-forth shootout at Piper Field, Marblehead edged Masconomet thanks to goals from Mark Vinokur, David Magen, Fontela-Tuttle, and Adam Laughlin. Julian Poitevin, Bubacarr Jallow, and Fontela-Tuttle delivered assists, while goalie Matias Watts-Cruz made key stops.
GIRLS SOCCER
Swampscott 1
Marblehead 1
Swampscott was up to the task in Marblehead’s home-opener, salvaging a tie. Jane Raymond scored for the Big Blue, assisted by Maddie Mohan. Marblehead’s Liv Carlson opened the scoring 23 minutes into the first half, assisted by captain Sydney Ball. Goalkeeper Eve Byrne made 15 saves for Swampscott.
Marblehead coach Lisa Wales praised Swampscott’s effort.
“Credit to Swampscott. They came to play. It was a very physical game all-around.”
Marblehead 2
North Andover 0
The Magicians stayed perfect with a road win against North Andover. Carlson gave Marblehead a quick lead, scoring in the sixth minute off a pass from Callie Gilmore.
Gilmore doubled the advantage in the second half, sending a shot into the bottom-left corner.
Goalkeepers Hailey Gilmore and Lily Heller split time and combined for the shutout.
Marblehead 1
Masconomet 0
Marblehead’s Courtney Hitscherich scored an unassisted goal with seven minutes remaining in the first half, and her visiting Magicians took down Masconomet to make history.
“This was a total team effort. I’m incredibly proud of the girls,” Wales said. “Masco is always tough. This is the first time in program history that we have beaten Masco since they joined the NEC.”
Hailey Gilmore recorded five saves for the Magicians. Defensively, Ainsley McDonald, Ashley Mortensen, and Ball were “outstanding,” according to Wales.
“Liv Carlson also had a terrific game; Callie Gilmore and Lucy McDonald worked tirelessly in the midfield.”
FIELD HOCKEY
Marblehead 4
Peabody 1
After a scoreless opening quarter, Marblehead goals were scored by Chloe Rowland, Zoe Dwyer, and Layla Dulac (2), but that wasn’t all.
“Our defense has been consistently strong and today was no exception. Paige Waldman was a force on the field today, really challenging Peabody and helping keep our offense in possession of the ball. Paige is a hard worker and has an exceptional ability to read what’s happening on the field and communicate that to her teammates efficiently,” said Marblehead coach Alison Carey. “Our offense played a very strong game today and I’m very proud of the way they worked together to set up opportunities for some great plays. Julia Mann had a huge presence. At center midfield, Julia was relentless about pushing the ball up and supporting her attack players.”
Peabody’s Sophia Kassis (21 saves) played well between the pipes, while Eva Briggs and Bella Kassis added two saves apiece. Kelsey Kennison scored Peabody’s first goal of the season, with an assist coming from Morgan White.
“We played people in many different positions and are very proud of our progress as a unit,” said Peabody coach Jillian Tobin.
VOLLEYBALL
Marblehead 3
Ipswich 0
Marblehead (2-1) worked its magic with a goose-egg win against Ipswich. Set scores were 25-4, 25-8, and 25-17. Lila Moniz (7 kills) and Greta Sachs (6) led the Magicians’ offense, while setter Sydney DaSilva and Eva Burke tallied nine assists apiece. Defensively, Sydney Faris had 12 digs and added four aces.
Newburyport 3
Marblehead 1
With a tough Newburyport team in its way, the Magicians – through close set scores – dropped to 1-1. Moniz and Sachs (7 solo blocks, 4 assists) led Marblehead’s offense with 12 kills apiece, while Burke and DaSilva combined for 36 assists.
Marblehead 3
Masconomet 0
Marblehead (1-0) blanked the Chieftains in set scores of 25-18, 25-21, and 25-12. Sammy Walker (7 kills) and Mari Modrzynska (6) led Marblehead’s offensive attack, as the team posted 25 kills with just two errors. On the defensive side, Faris anchored serve receive, while adding eight digs. Sachs picked up three blocks and setter Burke distributed the offense with 18 assists.
GOLF
Marblehead 36
Masconomet 36
Marblehead (5-1-1) tied the Chieftains with Greyson Leventhal (39), Joy Meshulam, Will Macrina (39), and Dylan Whitman winning their matches. Tyler Forbes (medalist 38) tied his match.
Marblehead 36.5
Beverly 35.5
Marblehead rallied on the final hole to edge Beverly in a tight match Monday.
Trailing by five points with two matches remaining, Bowden Laramie two-putted from 30 feet for par to win his hole and match by five points, tying the team score. Whitman then hit his second shot to 5 feet and made the birdie putt to win his match by one point, giving Marblehead the deciding point.
Leventhal led the way for Marblehead, winning his match, 5-4, and finishing as medalist with a 35. Meshulam won 5.5-3.5, and Laramie’s dominant 7-2 performance also helped seal the victory. Macrina tied his match.
St. John’s Prep 42.5
Gloucester 29.5
In eight-on-eight match play, with two alternates, St. John’s Prep (2-0) remained perfect with a win at Bass Rocks Golf Club. The Eagles were led by Logan Daigle (43), AJ Bodnar (38), Seamus O’Holleran (37), Grady O’Gannon (37), and Jack Moriarty (36).
Marblehead 61.5
Peabody 10.5
Marblehead defeated Peabody at Tedesco Country Club and upped its record to 3-1 on the young season. Match winners were Forbes, Max King, Leventhal, Macrina, Meshulam, Colby Moore, Whitman, and Zac Plum. Macrina and Moore were medalists with scores of 36.
FOOTBALL
St. John’s Prep 36
Springfield Central 35
St. John’s Prep’s Jordan Toribio scored a touchdown – followed by his own game-winning two-point conversion – with seven seconds remaining, and the Eagles (1-0) delivered a last-second victory to the fans at Glatz Field. A last-second Hail Mary attempt was intercepted.
The Prep trailed, 35-21, in the fourth quarter. Maxwell Parent, a transfer from St. Mary’s, scored an 8-yard touchdown in the first half.