High schools: PVCICS, Smith Voc play to 1-1 boys soccer draw (PHOTOS)

By GARRETT COTE

Staff Writer

Published: 09-25-2023 9:05 PM

HADLEY – A strong second-half showing from the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School boys soccer team led them to come from behind and tie the game against Smith Vocational on Monday afternoon. PVCICS used a penalty-kick goal from Teddy Scott to knot the game up at 1-1, which ultimately held as the final score.

Scott’s initial penalty kick was saved by Vikings goalie Zack Bramucci, but it bounced right back to him as he tapped in the rebound to put PVCICS on the board. Given the two three-goal victories Smith Voc picked up against PVCICS last season, Monday’s result shows exactly how much the PVCICS team has improved since a year ago.

“Last year, Chinese Immersion was a good team, but we were able to come out of those games with wins,” Vikings head coach Ryan Della Penna said. “This year they are much better, and have way more intensity and you can see it in lots of their players.”

Smith Vocational’s goal came off the foot of freshman Jacob Maloney, who also used a rebound to find the back of the net. Maloney followed up a shot by charging hard toward goal, and found himself in the right place at the right time.

“We had a couple of shots like that, and this one he was there to finish it off,” Della Penna said. “It was just really hard work from Jacob that got him a goal there.”

The Vikings dominated possession in the first half, but PVCICS flipped the script in the second. Della Penna saw PVCICS bring a lot of intensity to the pitch, and intensity that his team wasn’t able to match. With two tough games (Athol, Pathfinder) on the horizon later this week, he expects his team to ramp up its effort in practice – hoping it translates to the field on game day.

“In practice, you gotta pretend like it’s an actual game,” Della Penna said. “A lot of times when you first start off a season, you’re going 50, 60 percent trying to get back into it. In practice, you have to go 110 percent, because you practice how you play.”

PVCICS (4-2-1) returns to action when it hits the road on Wednesday to take on St. Mary at 4 p.m.

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Field hockey

Franklin Tech 5, Smith Academy 0 — The Falcons were unable to generate offense against a strong Eagles defense.

Hannah Gilbert tossed in a hat trick for Franklin Tech, and Kait Trudeau finished with a pair of goals.

Belchertown 9, Holyoke 2 — The Orioles were a goal away from putting up double digits in a dominant win over the Purple Knights. Lila Roy (two), Edith Audette (two), Isabella Cauley, Rachel Baltazar, Addi DiBona, Brooke Stelmokas, and Karyna Rondeau accounted for the goal scorers for Belchertown.

Laura Cote tallied three assists while Audette had two. Other Orioles players with assists were Mya Philpott, Bella Cebula, and Roy.

Boys soccer

Belchertown 2, Minnechaug 1 — Joseph Yoon and Tanner Lockwood netted the Belchertown goals on Monday, leading to a key Smith League victory.

Esat Cayan and Josh Misiaszek recorded assists in the win for the Orioles.

Girls soccer

Amherst 6, Granby 0 — A second-half scoring barrage propelled the Hurricanes to a 6-0 shutout win over the Rams.

Maddie Hockman netted a hat trick for Amherst and Maeve Fitzgerald, Zola Higham, and Aliya Morales-Fernandez all scored a goal as well. Hockman, Morales-Fernandez, Emma Learned-Miller, and Sage Zephyr found teammates for goals.

Each team played two goalies in the game. Amherst’s Neena Chinappa (four) and Zoriah Kenney (one) combined for five saves while Granby’s Meredith Bartosz (eight) and Eleanor Szloseck (three) combined for 11 saves.

Pope Francis 5, Hampshire 0 — The Raiders ran into a very talented Pope Francis team and were held scoreless on five shots. Makena Rogalski put forth a strong effort in goal with 11 saves in the loss.

The Cardinals scored two goals in the first half before adding three more in the second.

Girls volleyball

Frontier 3, Turners Falls 0 — After two losses last week, Frontier is back in prime form as the Redhawks cruised to a sweep (25-21, 25-17, 25-23) over Turners Falls for their second straight victory.

Caroline Deane erupted for 17 kills, 11 digs, and four aces while Olivia Machon served a tremendous game, tallying eight aces of her own. Allie Pierce and Parish Stilla split setting duties for Frontier as they each recorded 11 assists in the win.

Late weekend results

Boys soccer

Granby 1, Smith Academy 1 — The first of two meetings between the two Class E Western Mass. finalists ended in a low-scoring draw, as the Falcons’ Cameron Graves netted an unassisted goal and the Rams’ Anthony Santiago scored on an assist from Cody White.

Both goalies made three saves for their respective teams, with Jake Wilcox in the box for Smith Academy and Daniel Santiago getting the start for Granby.

Frontier 4, Douglas 0 — Owen Babb grabbed five saves in goal for the Redhawks to pick up his fifth shutout in seven games. Rosco Palmer scored twice for Frontier, while Aidan Valderrama and Chanmin Son added goals of their own as well.

Son tallied the lone assist for the Redhawks in the win that improved them to 6-1.

Girls soccer

South Hadley 3, Hampshire 0 — Recent 100-point scorer Lauren Marjanski showed no signs of slowing down, propelling the Tigers on offense with two goals. Allison Fleury also scored a goal, while Maddie Soderbaum added an assist.

Both goalies showed out over the weekend, as South Hadley netminder Drew Alley totaled 11 saves in a shutout win, while Hampshire goalie Makena Rogalski snatched eight on 11 shots.

Lenox 3, Holyoke 0 — The Purple Knights out-shot Lenox 8-6 on Friday, but couldn’t find the back of the net in the 3-0 loss.

Junior keeper Jayvah Stuckey had three saves on six shots.

Field hockey

Frontier 1, Minnechaug 1 — The Redhawks took a 1-0 lead into the fourth quarter but were unable to hang on Saturday morning. Frontier’s Hailey Hutkoski cashed in on a pass from Ashley Taylor to get the scoring started in the third quarter after a scoreless first half.

Kyra Richards was impressive between the pipes for the Redhawks, collecting five saves on the day.

Northampton 1, Southwick 0 — The Blue Devils continue their hot start to the season, improving to 4-1-1 after their third shutout win of 2023. A second half goal from Emily Lippiello was all Northampton needed on Friday night. The goal came on a penalty stroke.

Blue Devils goalie Charlotte Johnson Mersack tallied seven big saves in a winning effort to help keep her team in front.

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