Early Fall '07 Athletics Reports
The Ravens have gotten off to a strong start in fall athletics, led by the Varsity Field Hockey team, which has posted a 4-1 record to date. Following are selected reports from coaches. For a full listing of upcoming games, results, rosters and game highlights, please visit the Athletics page on our Web site: www.portsmouthabbey.org/page/athletics.
Field Hockey -- Varsity Field Hockey is 4-1 overall, and in the EIL. We beat Beaver Country Day (8-1), Lexington Christian (2-0), Newton Country Day (2-1), and Concord Academy (3-1). We lost to Pingree (4-0). The team has been led by the quick speed of Sixth Form Co-Captain Steph Perez in the midfield and the sharp reflexes of Sixth Form Co-Captain Naseemah Mohamed in the goal. Both Steph and Naseemah are tough, intimidating and determined players. They lead the team by positive example, motivating their fellow players to do their best everyday, and inspire the girls to reach their goals. Ally Boglioli is our leading scorer with 5 goals and 2 assists. In our last game vs. Concord Academy, her disciplined stick-work could not be beaten as she scored an unassisted goal from the middle of the circle while we were playing man-down. She has a tremendous work ethic and always keeps a very positive attitude on and off the field. Beneva Davies is the cornerstone of our defense. Her style of play is very patient and methodical and she is always able to maintain her poise under pressure. Much of our success is a result of working hard as a team, and having fun while we're doing it.
Girls' Soccer -- The Portsmouth Abbey Girls' Soccer team traveled to Beaver Country Day in Newton, MA, for its first EIL game of the season. Led by Sixth Form captains Maggie McCarthy, KK Behan and Liz Childs, the Abbey girls' managed a 10-0 win. Olivia Simone and Brigid Behan each had two goals, whileKK Behan, Riley Grant, Molly O'Neil, Katie Collins, Katie Sgarro, and Tori Sgarro each had one goal. It was a promising opening in which the girls executed a well-balanced attack, played aggressive defense, and were helped by goalie Liz Child's four saves.
The Girls' Varsity Soccer team hosted visiting Concord Academy in the second EIL match of the season and managed a 3-0 win. Brigid Behan, Riley Grant, and Molly O'Neil each found the back of the net once. Much of success was rooted in the fine play of center-middie KK Behan and the support of middies Merritt Bauer, Tori Sgarro, Katie Sgarro, Madison Nunes and Katie Collins. The disciplined defense of Maggie McCarthy, Sarah Taddei, and Jasmin Amaral was outstanding, and Liz Childs came through with four saves.
The team then welcomed visiting Pingree and played an excellent match in a 2-0 loss. The Pingree team scored just before the second half after a hotly contested opening half on a long ball that sailed just above the outstretched hand of goalie Liz Childs. The Abbey continued to play well in the second half when the Pingree team got off a quick shot near the goal to bring the score to 2-0. Though the Abbey had a number of opportunities to score, it could not put together the right combination against a very strong and mature Pingree team. Third Formers Katie Sgarro, Tori Sgarro, Jasmin Amaral and Brigid Behan were outstanding in the field for the Abbey, while Sixth Form players KK Behan, Maggie McCarthy and Molly O'Neil played inspired soccer. Liz Childs recorded 14 saves in the first loss of the season. The team record is now 2-1.
Boys' Golf -- The Boys' Varsity Golf team began the season by defeating The Landmark School, 4-2. Winning matches for the Abbey were Captain Kyle Sargis '08, low medalist, Teddy Hackett '08, Ben Fernandez '08 and Kevin Wooters '09. The team then lost in a tie-breaker to Bancroft. Winning matches for the Abbey were Kyle Sargis, Ben Fernandez and Kevin Wooters. The team went on to defeat Concord Academy, 4-2, with Kyle Sargis leading the team by shooting a 34. Also winning matches for the Abbey were Kevin Wooters, Rob LeMeur '09 and Rob Savoie '10. The team's record now stands at 4-1.
Boys' Soccer -- The Abbey boys' varsity soccer team began its season by playing a well-fought match against a talented and attack-oriented Lexington Christian team. After a challenging first half, where both teams saw some good scoring opportunities, the Abbey fought strong in defense and held LC to a scoreless tie. Jorge Ibarra '09 played a good game in goal and came up with some fantastic saves while Martin Minondo '09 helped lead the attack for the Abbey.
The team then defeated St. Anselm's Abbey, 1-0, to capture this year's Bishop Ansgar Memorial Soccer Cup. Started in 1994, the annual competition pits the Ravens' Varsity Boys' Soccer team against St. Anselm's Abbey School, located in Washington, D.C. Like Portsmouth Abbey, St. Anselm's was also founded by Benedictine monks of the English Congregation and has ties to the late Bishop Ansgar Nelson, who spent time at St. Anselm's and ordained three monks while there.
This year's contest was held at St. Anselm's Abbey. Portsmouth controlled the flow of the game during all 80 minutes of play. After some missed opportunities early in the match, the Ravens were able to capitalize on that domination later in the game, when Fourth Former Christopher Larson scored the goal early in the second half. The Ravens played a solid defensive game, limiting St. Anselm's to only a few offensive opportunities. The series now stands at 9-3 (with two matches cancelled, due to a hurricane in 1999 and September 11 in 2001), with Portsmouth holding a decided edge.
Attention Parents and Spectators: If you are taking photographs at athletic contests of your Abbey student-athlete or others, we would welcome receiving them to post in a photo gallery we are developing for the School Web site. Please email your photos to asanders@portsmouthabbey.org.
