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Weekly Athletics Update—Nov. 7, 2022

Weekly Athletics Update—Nov. 7, 2022
 
 
The calendar has flipped to November and with that several of our fall teams are preparing for championship week – November 14-20.  Quarter-final contests are scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 16 with semi-final action on Saturday, Nov.  19 and finals set for Sunday, Nov. 20. There is some more work to be done this week and at least one of our fall programs – Cross Country – will race in the NEPSAC championships this Saturday, Nov. 12 at the St. Mark’s School, Southborough, Ma. 
 
  • Girls’ varsity soccer won their 7th consecutive contest as senior Lacey Mbugua scored two 2nd half goals to propel the Hilltoppers to a 5-0 win over Exeter. Elizabeth Finn ’23 scored a late goal and is on track with two remaining contests to become the all-time leading scorer in this storied program. Road contests this week include a Wednesday trip to St. Mark’s and a Saturday morning (11:30 a.m.) season finale at Cushing.

  • Portsmouth Abbey scored on their 1st two possessions of Friday evenings football contest and then the WA defense stood tall for the duration as the home team exploded for a 40-13 triumph on Senior night. Seth Delong ’23 rushed for over 100 yards and scored three TD’s as the WA offensive line repeatedly opened rushing lanes for the Hilltopper running backs. Sitting at 4-3 overall, the team will look to close out a successful season on Friday as they travel to Schenectady, NY (Union College) for a 7:00 p.m. contest with Albany Academy. 

  • Boys’ soccer won their 14th consecutive match with a 2-0 win over Phillips Andover Academy on Wednesday. The team used the “light” week to tweak a few things and to let some tired bodies recover as they point towards Wednesday’s home contest with Suffield and Cushing in Ashburnham on Saturday to conclude the regular season.
     
  • Field Hockey had a busy week as they played 3 contests over the span of 4 days. The team responded well from a mid-week setback at Newton Country Day School (5-0 setback) with impressive wins at Marianapolis Prep on Friday and on Senior day a scintillating 3-2 win over Portsmouth Abbey School. Ally Gray ’23 scored three goals in Friday’s win over Marianapolis Prep. The team will conclude the season with road contests at St. Mark’s (Wednesday) and Cushing Academy (Saturday). 

  • WA cross country geared up for this weekend’s D II NEPSAC Championships with a quad meet at the Pomfret School in Connecticut. On a warm, breezy afternoon, Ella Budzinski ’25 and Harrison Martel ’25 led their squads respectively in a race that the host school, Pomfret dominated. Cushing Academy and Wilbraham & Monson School rounded out the competitive field. 
 
  • Varsity Volleyball (10-6) enjoyed a busy week of action pushing past Marianapolis Prep on Wednesday by a 3-1 margin. On Friday evening the team was off to Marion, MA and gave Class A power Tabor all it could handle before bowing in the 5th set. On Saturday, the team was back on the road facing Austin Prep (new NEPSAC entry) in the 1st ever match between the programs. The Hilltoppers shook off a slow start and emerged with a 3-1 victory. Andover will visit WA on Wednesday (3:30 p.m. start) and Cushing will provide the opposition on Senior Day with a 1:30 pm tip-off on Saturday afternoon.

  • JV Volleyball dropped both contests during the week falling to Tabor and Austin Prep while the JV boys’ soccer team dropped their lone contest of the week at Andover. 

  • MS teams concluded their Ffll season last week so thanks to all of our coaches and student-athletes for their work. 
 
Around the Rim:
 
NEPSAC pairings for tournament games will be released on Sunday, Nov. 13.
 
Winter tryouts may start this weekend, Saturday, Nov. 12.
 
Fall Athletic Banquet (student-athletes and coaches only) will take place in the Megaron on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 6:30 p.m.
 
 
Co-Athletes of the Week:
 
Seth Delong ’23 – Football
Ally Gray ’23 – Field Hockey 
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