Historic Run Ends As Belmont Field Hockey Fell To Andover In State Quarters Match

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont coming off the pitch at halftime at the quarterfinals of the MIAA state championship

A brilliant sun was just setting on a crisp fall day as the final horn sounded over Lovely Stadium in Andover as the players of Belmont High School Field Hockey slowly made their way to the sideline. Many just wanted to hold on to their teammates while others stared down at the field. They wanted more time together, to continue the season, win just once more.

But the cold reality was the season had just ended, as Andover came away with a solid 3-0 victory over the Marauders in the quarterfinals of the MIAA Division 1 state championship.

Belmont Head Coach Jess Smith only regret was that for the first time in 21 games, the Marauders didn’t bring their A game to a contest which they needed to be their opponents equal.

“It was not our day,” said Smith “Things didn’t fall the way they needed to. It’s like a basketball; we were hitting the rim and the ball just keeps coming out.”

“Some of those players that could elevate their intensity a little bit, it just didn’t happen,” she said.

Not that 5th-seed Belmont didn’t have its chances. In the first quarter, the Marauders were banging on the 4th-ranked Golden Warriors door. Five times they drove the ball within seven meters of goal. The first opportunity came just a minute-and-a-half into the game when a ball squeezed through Andover’s goalie Lucy Baker’s pads only to be stopped on the goal line.

While Belmont had a 10-6 shot advantage and 10 penalty corners in the 60 minutes, each chance would go wanting. And Andover would prove ruthless, scoring on its first two shots all within 90 seconds in the first quarter. The initial goal at 8:28 by Ella Sewall was one of the rare times this season the defense were out-of-position and missed a critical opportunity to clear the ball from in front of first-year goalie Zoe Bruce. The Warriors second tally from Avery Pitts at 6:51 came from some top-notch passing on a penalty corner.

Senior co-captain Ana Hopkins – who centered “The Wall”, Belmont’s outstanding back line along with junior Neamh Lesnik and sophomore Elise Lakin-Schultz – felt that going behind so early on the road put the team on the back foot.

“We were confident coming into it but no one was expecting [Andover] to so quickly bang those two goals. Once our team gets down, we were kind of like … ,” said Hopkins shrugging. “I don’t think we had it in us today to come back.”

While Belmont saw solid performances from center back Hopkins. first year mid Mia Smith and junior captain Mackenzie Clarke, who attracted double and triple teams, the Marauders couldn’t capture the same momentum which they could find during its 16 game winning streak which included wins against top 10 opponents Reading and Winchester.

While Belmont did push forward in the third quarter, coming close on a shot that barely skipped by the far right post, Andover packed the middle of the field with players stifling the Marauders centering passes from the wings. A late goal in the fourth quarter – a well-placed shot from Caroline Samaras that snuck inside the left nearside post – was the coup de grâce for any Belmont comeback.

Smith said the disheartening ending to the season doesn’t take away from a historic year for the program: a Middlesex Liberty Division title – capturing the crown for first in nine years – and records for wins (18) and shutouts (13) – lead by Bruce who didn’t pick up the game until this year – along with scoring 93 goals while surrendering just 18.

“We did a really good job this year,” said Hopkin, who is one of five seniors on the team. “I’ll miss it forever.”

“In all honestly, it’s a great year. We made it further than we ever thought back in August when we worried we were a .500 team,” said Smith. “The nice thing is it’s a young team and now they’re going to expect this from themselves coming into next season. I think they’ll be really motivated for it.”

Belmont Field Hockey Reach State Quarterfinals Shutting Out Natick, 2-0; Next Up Andover On Saturday

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Sophomore defender Elise Lakin-Schultz after scoring Belmont’s second goal against Natick to secure a 2-0 Sweet 16 win in the MIAA Division 1 Field Hockey tournament in Belmont on Nov. 6, 2024.

Relying on its record-setting defense and a pair of goals from the teams most reliable scorers in junior midfielder Mackenzie Clarke and sophomore defender Elise Lakin-Schultz, 5th-seed Belmont High School Field Hockey reached the Elite Eight of the state’s Division 1 field hockey tournament with a dominating 2-0 victory over Natick High School in a second-round matchup held at Harris Field on Wednesday, Nov. 6.

Belmont (18-2-0) continues its tournament run into the quarterfinals on Saturday, Nov. 9, as they face Andover High at the Warriors home field. The game gets underway at 2:30 p.m. Fourth-ranked Andover (17-2-1) reached the quarterfinal defeating Beverly, 1-0. The upcoming game comes 10 years to the week when Belmont lost to Andover, 1-0, in overtime in the Division 1 North quarterfinals in 2014.

Belmont High junior midfielder and co-captain Mackenzie Clarke vs. Natick. Clarke scored the first goal and assisted on the second in Belmont’s 2-0 Sweet 16 match in the MIAA Division 1 tournament.

The win comes on the heels of Belmont’s playoff opening round game in which the Marauders rode roughshod over Barnstable High, 5-0, last Thursday.

“Natick played us tough … but we dominated the play despite all of what they did,” said Jessica Smith, Belmont’s long-tenured head coach after the game. She also praised the defense from the entire team and especially the three backs – senior Ana Hopkins, junior Niamh Lesnik, and Lakin-Schultz – “who played phenomenal, they worked extra, extra hard.”

Belmont High first year goalie Zoe Bruce makes a first quarter pad save against Natick in Belmont’s 2-0 Sweet 16 victory in the MIAA Division 1 Field Hockey tourament.

“I think that being super aggressive and going to every ball is something that worked well,” said co-captain Hopkins. In the third quarter, the Red Hawks crossed the midfield line just once and had its only penalty corner with three minutes remaining in the game. Final shot totals were seven for Belmont and one for Natick.

Since losing to Reading 2-1 on Sept. 13, Belmont (18-2) has compiled a 16 game undefeated/untied streak with 13 clean sheets. Over the regular and post season, Belmont has scored 93 goals while giving up 15, with first-year goaltender Zoe Bruce in the net who picked up the game in the spring.

In the Elite Eight match against Andover, “scoring on [penalty] corners with teams like in the top five is going to be key because it going to be tough to score on,” said Hopkins.

“The kids don’t remember what its like to loss, so they go out expecting to win every single game. I think with more energy, I’m expecting to win,” said Smith.

Belmont High Volleyball Knocks Off No. 8 Bishop Feehan In First Round Upset

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont High School Volleyball’s Wenxi Wang (No. 11) in action earlier in the season.

Last year, Belmont High Volleyball entered the Div. 1 state championships as the ninth seed with an impressive 17-2 record (and a first-ever Middlesex Liberty title) with high hopes of a long run in the tournament. But the Marauders found themselves walking off the Wenner Field House court heartbroken after falling 3-2 to 24th ranked Lincoln/Sudbury Regional in the first round upset.

“There is that pressure as the higher seed,” said Belmont Head Coach Jen Colture at the time. “There’s an expectation you have, and the other team has no expectations. They had nothing to lose.”

Fast forward on Halloween in Fall River, it was the Marauders’ turn to play with nothing to loss. And on the night for tricks or treats, the 25th seed Belmont came back from a set down to sweep the next three to upset 8th ranked Bishop Feehan High, 14-25, 25-23, 25-14, 25-19.

While Belmont took time to find the right mix of players and positions, the Marauders entered the tournament registering an 8-2 record in the end of the season, showing its potential in the playoffs. It was less an upset than a solid win for the Marauders.

It was the team’s front line standout junior Wuyee Ke that led the way with double digit kills (11) with a kill percentage just over 25 percent. Ke was only second (4) to senior Gabrielle Hashioka (6) in serving aces as Belmont totaled a gaudy 16 aces in the four sets. Of 90 serves, Belmont only committed four errors, a 96 percent success rate.

Quarterbacking the Marauders was junior Sophia Qin who handled the ball 115 times and assisting in 26 winning shots.

Defensively, the pair of junior Sadie Boas and sophomore Yekaterina Polina prowled the net, making a total of three all important blocks against the Shamrocks while Ke (26) and Hashioka (20) put in the work digging the ball off the court.

Belmont (13-8) will make a second long trip south as they travel down Rt 495 to Franklin for a match against 9th seed Panthers (15-5) on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 6 p.m.

Belmont High Volleyball On Seven Win Run As Marauders Enters A Gauntlet This Final Week

By Leave a Comment

Photo:

After coming off a “season to remember” last year – finishing 15-2 and wearing the Middlesex League Liberty crown for the first time – the 2024 campaign for Belmont High Girls’ Volleyball was, at best, underwhelming. For a team that returned a slew of veterans from Head Coach Jennifer Couture’s championship squad, the Marauders stumbled out of the blocks going 4-6 for September.

One big reason for the slow start was the loss of graduating senior Bella Radojevic who was the team’s offensive stalwart who could be relied on to ring up points in bunches. While Couture’s defensive set up is solid, finding the right combination of a new “go to” outside hitter and a steady setter from a group of candidates who were not-as-tall as the players they were facing across the net proved frustrating.

“So we have (junior) Sadie Boaz as our middle [blocker] and she is amazing (18 attacks, nine kills and no errors against powerhouse Melrose), but we are not swimming in starting level middles and [an outside hitter]. We were switching players from other positions to see what could fit where,” said Couture.

“This year is one of those years where we have what we need to do well, but we’re still figuring some things out,” she said.

And soon after a loss to Burlington, all the pieces fell into place as the Marauders are coming off a 7-0 winning streak to up its record to 11-6. Stepping into the hitters role, junior Wuyee Ke (one of nine juniors on the 15 player roster) leads the team averaging 20.5 kills in the last two games with a rocket of a shot which has translated into 50 serving aces this season. Much of Ke’s success comes from the steady hand of returning setter junior Sophia Qin.

Belmont’s team foundation is built on the D. Junior Erin Dailey has become a presence as its defensive specialist who is the team’s top ranked server (7 aces while placing 26 of her 27 serves in play in a clutch performance against Concord-Carlisle which Belmont won 3-2) Add Boaz blocking skills – she is joined up front by sophomores Yekaterina Polina and Stella Ivkovic – with senior Gabrielle Hashioka who leads the team in digs and the Marauders’ defense with the best in the Middlesex League.

And they will need to be at their best during the final week of the regular season as the Marauders will be heading into a gauntlet of top teams beginning with a visit Tuesday, Oct 22, by 14-3 Lexington who defeated Belmont 3-2 in September. On Thursday, the opposition just gets tougher as league leaders Winchester, sporting a 15-2 record, welcomes the Marauders. The Red and Black also defeated Belmont, 3-2, when they met earlier. To finish the season, Belmont travels to a strong D-3 Wayland squad, (11-4) who handed the Marauders a 3-0 defeat at home.

At 11-6, Belmont will make the post season as they currently sit 26th in the MIAA Division 1 Power Rankings.

Late Goal, Later Save Secures Belmont High Field Hockey Win Over Winchester; Top 10 Reading On Thursday

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont High junior co-captain Mackenzie Clarke

Belmont High senior co-captain Ryan Brodigan’s game-winning goal with three minutes remaining followed by a match saving stop by first year netminder Zoe Bruce with less than 10 seconds left on the clock securing a key 3-2 victory over a top-ranked Winchester squad on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at Harris Field.

The afternoon matinee was a back and forth affair that was contested between the scoring circles with both team’s outstanding junior midfielders – Winchester’s Samantha Gal (2 goals) and Belmont’s Mackenzie Clarke (1 goal, 1 assist) – directing the offenses.

Belmont twice took the lead – through an early first quarter goal from Brynn Connolly and a spot penalty shot by co-captain Clarke in the second quarter – only to see the Red and Black answer back to knot the game entering the final quarter. The match was finally decided by the steady pressure applied by the Marauders which bottled up Winchester in its end of the pitch.

The game winner came when Belmont intercepted a Rossoneri clearing attempt. Clarke advanced the ball off the left side just outside the scoring circle than sent a low screamer that found Brodigan who slotted the ball into the back of the net with 3:07 remaining.

But Winchester would not get on their bus without a final say when the Red and Black had a clear shot at the net in the final ten clicks of the game. But Bruce, who was playing in her eighth ever game in the nets, denied the shot that would have stolen a win from Belmont’s grasp.

“I’m sure I burned 9,000 calories during the game,” Belmont Field Hockey Head Coach Jess Smith told her team after the match. Smith reflected on the total team effort that secured the victory.

“”It’s like what [Brodigan] said [after the game], ‘Everyone brought it today. Everybody worked as hard as they could for as long as they could.’ When I took kids off the field and gave them instructions, they made the moves I asked them to make.”

The victory was the fourth of seven consecutive win for the Marauders (9-2-0) keeping them in the mix for the Middlesex Liberty title. In the latest MIAA power rankings – which will determine the placement of the teams in the divisional playoffs – rated Belmont 10th in Division 1.

Belmont will welcome one-loss Reading Memorial – 6th in the Boston Globe top 20 poll – to Harris Field on Thursday, Oct. 10 as the 18th ranked Marauders will seek redemption for a 2-1 away loss to the Rockets in the fourth game of the season. The ball gets rolling at 4:15 p.m.

The Winchester victory had its origins a fortnight before after a disappointing performance against the leading team in the Middlesex Liberty division. After loss, 2-1, at the time an unbeaten Reading on Sept. 13, which left her team at .500 at 2-2, Smith identified fairly quickly the major problem plaguing the team.

“We may have had a slight advantage on the field, but with the exception of Clarke, we just weren’t taking that many shots on their goal. We didn’t give ourselves the opportunities we could have had,” said Smith.

So, on the next Sunday before a busy week on the pitch, Smith called an extra evening practice where the players had one objective: firing balls into the net. The extra work appeared to do the trick for the next three games as the Marauder took home three wins netted 17 goals.

Complimenting the reenergized offense has been the Marauders outstanding trio of defenders. Belmont’s backline of junior Niamh Leskin, sophomore Elise Lankin-Schultz with senior co-captain Ana Hopkins anchoring the middle of the defense proving themselves as one the league’s leading D-lines with the quickness to cover speedy forwards and the ability to slide into the offense on the counter attack.

“The backs are really pushing their forwards and midfield away from the [scoring] circle,” said Smith.

“Normally, I tend to hang back,” said Hopkins. “But Coach [Smith] was just talking about pushing up the field. It really helps to just go for the ball because Elise and Niamh can get back on defense quickly. We did that against Watertown (a good performance despite a 0-3 final score line) and when the forwards press, it definitely helps a lot,” she said.

Smith remains hopeful the team can continue to mesh the offense and defense to find success in the backend of the season.

“They really pulled through and got it done. That was a huge win so now we got to keep rolling.”

Marauders Loss Top Two QBs In First 13 Minutes Of Season As Football Falls, 48-0, To Shawsheen In Opener

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont’s Daniel Martins (53) and Enzo Passos (70) pressure Shawsheen’s QB Sid Tildsley into throwing an interception in the season opener.

On the opening game of the season, Belmont High School Football team learned a new word by living it: Friggatriskaidekaphobia – the fear of Friday the 13th.

With the game falling on Friday, the 13th of September, it shouldn’t have been surprising that the Marauders would experience one of the most bewitching days in its history. Within mere minutes of the opening kick-off, Belmont’s top quarterbacks were being helped off Harris Field as the team was run over and shut out, 48-0, by the visiting Shawsheen Valley Tech Rams.

“We know we have to work more on getting guys in the right places,” said Belmont’s new Head Coach Francois Joseph. “Our [offense and defensive] lines are huge across the board. We’re just not blocking well right now. We have to fix a lot of mistakes that we made tonight.”

Belmont knew it was in for a tussle. The team from Billerica was undefeated in the regular season last year while reaching the Div. 5 state semifinals. Belmont was coming off its own successful campaign, winning the Middlesex League for the first time in 59 years, making the playoffs, and romping over rivals Watertown, 47-0, on Thanksgiving.

Joseph said this year would be about rebuilding the program after the graduation of key positions including quarterback, an entire receiving corps, a lead running back and a slew of linebackers.

One area of hope came from senior Lucas Cadet, Belmont’s opening-day QB. A raw talent – tall, solid,and with an accurate arm – Cadet was seen by the coaches as someone whose considerable athletism would make up for his lack of experience under center.

Belmont did show a spark on defense when linemen Daniel Martins and Enzo Passos pressured Shawsheen’s QB Sid Tildsley into throwing a weak pass on third and long that Will Hendrickson intercepted. Cadet could do little with its first possession which led to a punt by senior kicker John Townsend. Tildsley would make up for his earlier miscue, and behind a well-placed lead block, returned the punt 90 yards down the left sideline for Shawsheen’s first TD at 8:12 in the first quarter.

Belmont would soon say farewell to its first signal caller when, after Cadet threw a completion – called back for holding – he was dropped by a late hit resulting in a roughing the passer penalty. It would turn out to be more than just your normal roughing as Cadet immediately knew he had suffered a significant injury to his non-throwing arm and would leave the game.

The game turned for the worse when Townsend’s second punt was taken again by Tildsley who this time cruised down the right sideline 60 yards for his second TD to double the Rams lead, 14-0.

Coming into the game on short notice, back-up QB junior Kyle Curtis had the most experience in the critical position, having played with his teammates during the summer in 7-on-7 competition. He did appear to be a little rusty as he would go three and out in his first possession.

While the Belmont offense sputtered, Tildsley took the Rams down the field on its second possession, finding Dyllon Pratt in the end zone for an 18-yard TD pass, which increased their lead to 21-0 with 10:54 remaining in the half.

Curtis would learn on Belmont’s second drive of the second quarter the value of having a teammate protecting his blind side. As Curtis stepped back to pass on second down, Shawsheen’s Quinn Carbone came untouched off the edge at a full sprint and planted an unsuspected Curtis into the home field turf. Carbone’s hit caused a fumble, which Tildsley’s younger brother, James, gathered and scampered 21 yards for a touchdown and a 28-0 lead. 

Curtis did not see the touchdown as he stared into the evening sky for several minutes. He would come off the field, and soon, his arm was wrapped in ice, and he ended up sitting on the bench for the remainder of the game.

With Belmont running back Wyatt Sclafani placed into the role of emergency QB, the Rams’ defense pinned back their ears as Belmont was limited to running the ball, primarily for losses behind the line of scrimmage. On Sclafani’s first play under center, Belmont running back Amir Mollineau was stripped of the ball by James Tildsley. Four plays later, the Rams were up 35-0.

For the rest of the first half, it was one-way traffic. The Belmont defense couldn’t make an important stop, and the Rams ran the ball for another touchdown. Shawsheen’s only disappointment during the half was missing an extra point.

When Shawsheen scored early in the third with a one-yard rush, increasing the score to 48-0, the game reverted to running time, where the clock stops only for scores, official timeouts, and the end of the quarter. This resulted in a second half lasting less than 30 minutes. By that time, everyone—the players, fans, officials, and the band—wanted to go home.

It was definitely a game to forget: Belmont’s defense did have a turnover but gave up 48 points before both teams sent in backups. The offense did not pick up a first down and lost more yards than it gained.

Friggatriskaidekaphobia, indeed.

Next up for the Marauders are our neighbors to the east, Cambridge Rindge and Latin, as the Falcons visit Harris Field on Friday, Sept. (not the 13th) 20 at 6:30 p.m.

Run Into Fall With The Becca Pizzi 5K On Sunday, Aug. 25

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont’s Becca Pizzi with former Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chára with their medals after finishing the 127th B.A.A. Marathon (credit: Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)

Run into the Fall by stretching your legs out with a brisk “5” with Belmont’s Marathon hero Becca Pizzi this Sunday by joining her in the Becca Pizzi 5K Race this Sunday, Aug. 25.

Race day starts with a Kids Run, with youngsters running a mile (four laps) of the Harris Field track at 9 a.m. The 3.1-mile flat road race course begins at 9:30 a.m., running to and through the Winn Brook neighborhood, before turning back to the high school track and the finish line. 

Race Bibs and swag can be picked up on site on race day from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

The race celebrates Becca, a two-time World Marathon Challenge Champion in which athletes run seven marathons on seven continents all in seven days. Repeating her 2016 victory in 2018, Becca set another World Record, putting her in the Guinness Book of World Records. Pizzi is also an inspirational runner, finishing a marathon in each of the 50 states in the calendar year.

Lately, Pizzi has trained with former Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chára to complete the Boston Marathon and prepare for the Ironman Triathlon.

Race proceeds benefit the Becca Pizzi Foundation for the purpose of awarding Belmont High School student/athlete scholarships. The Foundation has awarded over $50,000 in scholarships and sports equipment for Belmont High School. Last year’s scholarships were presented to Marykate Brady, Austin Lasseter, and Tomas Estrada

Sweet 6! Belmont Girls’ Rugby Romps To Sixth Consecutive State Title Over Weymouth

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Co-Capt. Mia Taylor lifts the state championship trophy after Belmont won its sixth consecutive title, defeating Weymouth, 80-0, on Saturday, June 15, at Curry College.

In a near flawless performance of top-flight rugby, Belmont High School Girls Rugby secured its sixth consecutive MIAA Division 1 state title, romping past a young, scrappy Weymouth squad, 80-0, at Curry College on Saturday, June 15.

The victory continues Belmont’s dominance in the tournament. The Marauders have won every championship game since 2017, when Belmont scored 17 unanswered points to defeat Algonquin Regional High School 17-14 in a true nailbiter.

Belmont HIgh School, the 2024 Div. 1 Girls’ Rugby State Champions

According to Kate McCabe, who started the varsity team a decade ago and has led the squad to each of its half dozen championship victories, it has been “a privilege” to coach what she and her players have created both this season and as a program.

“No one’s showing up because I’m so much fun to hang out with,” said McCabe. “It’s the players that made a family and a system that people feel empowered to be a part of even when they come in knowing nothing about rugby,” she said.

For senior outside center and co-captain Mia Taylor, the victory culminates in a personal three-peat of state championships.

”This team is just incredible. Every day, I’m excited to go to practice. I love these girls so much,” said Taylor, who will soon be off to UC San Diego, where she will continue playing rugby.

Belmont senior Mia Taylor on her way to a hat trick.

While Belmont came into the game unbeaten in 2024, having defeated Weymouth 26-12 in the first match of the season, the Marauders have had its handful with the Wildcats. In its past two encounters, Weymouth kept the matches close until late, including holding the lead early in the 2023 state semi-finals.

Belmont was anything but dominant in the first five minutes, losing its first four possessions on a series of miscues and nerves. But McCabe allowed the team seniors to take care of adjustments on the pitch.

“The coaches didn’t talk to you,” McCabe told her team after the game. “Nobody stepped onto the field. We let you lead, and you played off each other that whole time. Your voices were heard, and they were repeated together, supporting one another. We could not be more proud.”

Belmont’s stellar backline defending shut out Weymouth

Belmont dominated the defensive side of the ball. The front eight prevented Weymouth from putting in a positive phase, with the Wildcats inside Belmont’s 22 meters just once in the first 35 minutes. Belmont’s backs – led by senior wing Ally Caputo and junior Robyn Tonomura-MacDonald – never allowed Weymouth’s swift wings and full-back to break free turning the corners.

Senior lock Sally Amer secured her brace, scoring in the 15th and 23rd minutes, with the first a 10-meter run when she ran over two defenders before lunging into a try. Her second was more impressive: stealing a Weymouth scrum and moments later taking a straight line to try for the five points.

It didn’t take long for Belmont to right the ship, with Taylor grabbing her first try on a run around the right side after nine minutes. It was left up for Belmont’s senior fly half and kicking specialist Lucy “Buzz” Kabrhel to nail the two-point conversion from the most acute angle for the 7-0 lead.

Belmont senior wing Ally Caputo on her way for the team’s fourth try against Weymouth

Moments after receiving the kick, Caputo discovered a crease in Weymouth’s front line and streaked 60 meters for Belmont’s fourth try of the half. Three minutes later, Kabrhel found herself with a meadow of space and slalomed into try. With her conversion, Belmont would enter halftime with a 33-0 lead.

Despite being up by five tries, a rugby advantage is never secure as the scoring team receives the ball after a try and can dictate the game. But Belmont would allow the Wildcats just a single drive close to its try line before senior prop Olivia “Liv” Mann propelled herself to try after Belmont ran a master class in bringing the ball down the pitch. Taylor would throw down a brace within six minutes to complete her hat trick, and the rout was on. Mann, senior lock Abby Hill, junior “Number 8” Sadie Taylor, and Becca Michaud finished the scoring.

With Kabrhel’s 11th of 13 conversion kicks sailing through the uprights, the referee blew his whistle, and Belmont would celebrate its most dominating performance of the five previous state finals.

“It’s a long game, and over the course of the playoff run, we tell them, ‘You play the very best that you have. Give it your all, put it all on the field.’ And today, you can see people were just running as hard as they possibly could, and it was really beautiful to see,” said McCabe.

When Taylor was presented with the state championship trophy, she immediately started jumping up and down, her smile as bright as the sparkling late spring sunshine, expressing everything she and the team were feeling.

“My senior year meant so much to finish it here with every one of my teammates. I’m going to miss this so much,” Taylor said as she carried the trophy off the pitch.

Belmont High Girls’ Rugby Back For Sixth State Title Game Vs Tough Weymouth Squad

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont Girls’ Rugby in the title game again

Belmont High Girls’ Rugby will seek its six consecutive MIAA Division 1 state championship this Saturday after the Marauders made quick work of Lincoln Sudbury Regional, 71-5, in the state semi-finals match held at Harris Field, June 5.

The undefeated and top-ranked Marauders (7-0) will meet a scrappy third-seed Weymouth squad (5-2) in the title game taking place at 2 p.m., on Saturday, June 15 at Curry College in Milton. The Wildcats sprinted away late from Algonquin Regional in its 60-29 semifinal victory.

Tickets can be purchased at GoFan.com

After an early scare in which Belmont thwarted a Lincoln-Sudbury push deep inside Marauder territory, it was all Belmont as the team pilled up 35 points in the first 20 minutes as it shut out the Warriors in the first half. Junior Robyn Tonomura-MacDonald totaled four of Belmont’s 11 tries while playing stellar defense.

Saturday’s game will be a rematch of the first match of the season which Belmont waited late before pulling away. After scoring two tries quickly, Weymouth came within two – 14-12 – at the half. Weymouth held the advantage for most of the second half before two outstanding long run tries by Mia Taylor gave the Marauders the 27-12 victory.

Boys’ Tennis Sweep Aside Xaverian To Open State Tournament; Next Up #1 St. John’s Prep

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont High’s Julian Wong finishing off a point against Xaverian in the MIAA D1 opener

In its opening match of the MIAA Division 1 state championship, the 16th-ranked Belmont High Boys’ Tennis squad swept aside 17th seed Xaverian Brother, 5-0, on Wednesday, May 29, and now awaits a likely trip to Danvers to face top ranked and undefeated St. John’s Prep (17-0).

Belmont’s (11-6) top two singles, senior Charlie Osborn and junior Julian Wong, made quick work of their Hawks’ opponents, with Osborn winning 6-0, 6-1 in 35 minutes and Wong 6-4, 6-0.

“I wasn’t down ever in the match, I had a pretty good start,” said Wong, who was sporting a nifty new haircut for the playoffs. “I was up 5-2 in the first when I had a bit of a mental gap and he came back to 5-4. So I just had to really focus that and game and play it through. Of course, a ton of my friends came out today and it was really great.”

Yet after going down 2-0, the Hawks kept a narrow path to sneak out of The Town of Homes with a minor upset.

“Xaverian (9-8) was staying in the mix while putting pressure on our third singles and doubles teams,” said Dave Benson, now in his third year as the Marauders’ head coach.

But as they have done throughout the season, Belmont’s doubles came through with victories. First pairs of senior Ben Miller and junior Henry Moriarty were extended in both sets (7-5, 7-5) while seconds sophomore Brady Chan and first year Kalya Radojovic won it in a second set tie breaker (6-1, 7-6 (7-2)).

“The benefit of tight matches is they allow us to grow and be more accustomed to handling pressure situations. The boys responded exceptionally well, pulling out tight sets and tiebreakers in each match,” said Benson, who has managed the squad out of the first round for the past three seasons.

Belmont’s Soyam Pokharel battled fellow junior Nick Napoli as well as his body in a marathon match that went deep into the third set. With the match in a third set tiebreaker, Pokharel cramped up with him leading 8-5. After a five minute medical time out, Napoli came storming back to tie the match at 8-8. Each player fought off numerous match points with Pokharel finally eking out a 12-10 victory.

Belmont is now in a wait and see position as St. John’s has yet to play Chelmsford so that a day can be scheduled.

“I know most of their players and they have a deep squad,” said Olson. “They have pretty consistently good players, top to bottom. I can’t predict how my match is gonna go but I do know they will be one of the toughest teams we will play. Definitely one of the hardest games.”