Weekly Athletic Update, 9/19/16
Let the games begin! The summer months were ideal and we are optimistic heading into the fall season that Mother Nature will cooperate and provide suitable conditions for our teams and athletes to prosper and develop in the weeks ahead. The scrimmages and pre-season events are behind us and the games and competitions have begun in earnest. True to the pundits and prognosticators both varsity soccer teams are off and running in the early going.
- Ranked in the Top 10 by the NE soccer journal, our Girls Varsity Soccer team has utilized a stingy defense to post two one goal victories – both road contests – in squeezing by BB&N (co-captain Gabby Diodati with the game winner) and the Groton School. The team prepares for Wednesday’s early season match with the Rivers School, Morse Field, 5:00 pm.
- Junior keeper Patrick Neusch has led the 6th ranked boy's team to consecutive shutout road wins over BB&N and St. Sebastian’s as they prepare for a critical Class A match with Choate on Wednesday. Game time at the New Balance Field is 3:30 pm.
- The Varsity Field Hockey team, fresh off their most successful campaign ever in 2015, raced out to a 5-0 home victory over Beaver Country Day School on Wednesday and then played a 1-1 overtime tie on Saturday with the Brooks School. Rivers will provide the opposition for the team at Morse Field on Wednesday afternoon, with a 3:45 pm start.
- Lots of new faces on this year's Varsity Volleyball team but results have been positive to date, witness an opening 3-1 win over the Rivers School and a competitive loss to BB&N here on Rowe Court Saturday afternoon. Deerfield Academy will travel to WA on Wednesday for a 3:30 pm match.
- A bevy of new talented runners greeted head coach Wendy Perkins at the start of training sessions, yet it was the veteran (and highly regarded junior), Coco Arcand who provided the fireworks (21:00) in capturing 1st place in the prestigious Deerfield Invitational race. On the boy’s side, and Lucas Vining-Recklitis and Matt Adiletta set the pace for their team as veteran WA coach Vin Ricciardi rounds his team into contention!
- The WA Football team will open regular season play at home here at Morse Field on Saturday evening against Phillips Exeter at 6:00 pm.
- On the sub-varsity level, head coach Bob Thorn has agreed to move to the Boys JV Soccer team after many years directing the Girls JV Soccer team (thanks to Bob). St. John’s proved to be a formidable opponent on opening day as they eeked out a 3-2 win on Friday afternoon. Welcome to Rachel Rios who has taken over the JV Girls team and her “baptism” was equally unsettling as the Varsity team from Providence Country Day wore down the JV girl’s, 7-2. Lots of positives to be taken from both contests with both squads! JV volleyball has a roster replete with many novice players and coach Gere has them performing well, splitting their 1st two matches on the young season.
Co-Athlete of the Week
Coco Arcand ’19 – Varsity Girls Cross Country
Coco finished 1st in the Deerfield Invitational Meet on Saturday with a time of 21:00, besting her 2015 performance by a full 2 minutes!
Patrick Neusch ’18 – Varsity Boys Soccer
Patrick registered back-to-back shutouts in his 1st two career starts to propel the Hilltoppers!
