Belmont High Girls Rugby Sweeps Past Lincoln-Sudbury For Seventh Straight State Title

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Here are your 2025 MIAA Division 1 Girls State Champions: Belmont High School

It’s seven heaven for the Belmont High Girls Rugby team, which secured its seventh consecutive MIAA Division 1 state championship title, sweeping past Lincoln-Sudbury Regional, 69-21, at Curry College in Milton on Saturday, June 14.

With the victory, Belmont completed the 2025 season undefeated with eight wins, as the Marauders outscored their opponents by a combined 463 to 28.

Senior Captain Robyn Tonomura-MacDonald holds the 2025 State Championship trophy for her teammates to see after Belmont High’s victory.

With 13 senior starters on a squad playing top-level rugby since each joined the team, Belmont had the skills and experience to come into the match as overwhelming favorites. With a significant advantage in running, speed, and tackling by the backs and front line, Belmont’s game plan was simple: Continue what they did all season and repeat.

“This team felt pretty clear cut [they would win the state title] from the beginning of the season,” said Belmont Head Coach Kate McCabe, who has led the Marauders since the inception of the girls’ program in the mid-2010s.

This year’s seniors had to compete so much with the seniors of two years before for any game time. “They were fully convinced, ready to go, saying, ‘this is our year, and we’re gonna do it’.”

After an exchange of possession, Belmont struck first as senior Lock Laila Lusis dove into try eight minutes into the game, with senior center Rebecca Michaud handling the two-point conversion.

The Marauders would double its lead with speedy senior Wing Anoush McCarthy turning the right edge into clear for the try, coming after Belmont built its running foundation from its front line. Low numbers, including senior Props Anika Gupta and Tabitha Kambazza, sophomore Lock Rebecca Christensen, and senior Number 8 Sadie Taylor, punished L-S with 10 to 20-meter runs while senior Flanker Lucy Hinds was a handful for the Warriors with a series of outstanding broken-tackle sprints.

“I’m so proud of them,” said McCabe of her front eight. “The off-loads, how they kept adapting to what they saw in front of them. We’ve been doing it in the second half of the season, and it came into play today.”

While L-S planned to hem in Belmont’s back line, the speed and elusiveness of McCarthy, Michaud, captain senior flyback Robyn Tonomura-MacDonald, senior Fullback Mira Gardner, and the decision-making senior scrumhalf Clarissa Field proved too talented to hold back.

Belmont would break open the match during five minutes as Kambazza powered her way into a try at the 19-minute mark. Three minutes later, Lusis had her second with relentless running, while Christensen finished off a series of quick passes, diving across the try line at 14 minutes to up the score to 31-0.

Gardner would finish the half scoring after eluding the Warrior backs around the edge to go up, 38-0. L-S would pound into try after time expired to come off the field 38-7.

The game’s highlight came early in the second half what a sideline official dubbed “a try of beauty,” as McCarthy, Gardner, and finally Michaud combined with a series of quick passes to open up L-S’s backs for a walk-in try. The Warriors would strike back with 27 minutes remaining to cut the score to 45-14 – the most points the Marauders gave up this season – but by this time, McCabe had taken off many of the seniors to allow the team’s role players an opportunity to participate in a state championship.

McCarthy was awarded her second score with a penalty try after an NFL-style tackle, while Michaud and junior wing Jil Costa finished the scoring for the Marauders. When L-S kicked the conversion after scoring their third try with no time left on the clock, teammates ran onto the field to hug and celebrate.

“There are a lot of people who love this program for good reason, because it’s such a great program,” said Tonomura-MacDonald after the match. “The coaches and athletes are so hardworking. We had a practice with our alumni a couple of days ago. It showed they appreciate the work you’ve done, because they know they’ve had such a good experience here.”

And like the past six times, the players lined up to have the MIAA winner medals hung around their necks while watching McCabe and their captain, Tonomura-MacDonald, receive the program’s seventh state champion trophy.

Belmont High Commencement Outran Rain As Approximately 350 From Class Of ’25 Graduate

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Caps head skyward at the 2025 Belmont High Commencement

Tara Westover certainly accomplished a lot attending Belmont High School. 

Honored with one of two School Committee awards for outstanding achievement at Belmont High School’s 2025 commencement held under threatening skies on Saturday morning, June 7, Westover undertook the most rigorous course load with a near-perfect GPA; she is a National Merit semifinalist, achieved a perfect score on the SATs, is a talented artist and rock climber, a volunteer with Habitat for Humanities who also found the time to publish an academic paper with her father and brother while being accepted at Harvard College to study maths. Whew!

While she could have spoken on any number of subjects, Westover decided to demonstrate the commonality of each graduate with their classmates in a game of elimination using their upraised hands. They would put down a finger with each “interesting thing” they did during the past four years.

“[Did] you complain when you first heard about the changes to the weekly schedule,” and “if you complained the phone hotels, or, as some people, but definitely not me, have called them phone prisons,” and “if you shopped for prom outfits during class,” she said.

At the end of the challenge, Westover asked the graduates to look around. “I hoped you noticed two things. One, that almost everyone had some fingers down, which highlights our connection, which we have through the school building, to our fellow Marauders, even with the ones we may not have met. And two, that not everyone has all their fingers down,” Westover observed. 

“There’s no one story of a Belmont High graduate,” said Westover, as the most impactful moments were in a new class, speaking to a teacher, or just hanging out with friends. 

“Though our paths converged here … the details of our roots have been different. We’ve each crafted our own unique story,” she said. And with high school ended, “a new chapter is beginning. Life is a collection of moments like the ones you’ve had in high school. Let’s each grab a pen and start writing the next chapter of our stories as Belmont High School graduates.” 

Belmont High Principal Issac Taylor welcomed the approximately 350 graduates and their families and friends to Harris Field. In his address, Taylor spoke of the advancements in global connectivity in the past 200 years through the development of international shipping, which, itself, represents one of the great dichotomies of history.

“[Shipping] led to the murderous eradication of hundreds of cultures and languages,” founded the international slave trade, and accelerated the destruction of natural habitats, “setting the stage for the climate and biodiversity crisis,” said Taylor. And yet it shrank the globe and made it more accessible, while leading to the pooling of human talent and resources, accelerating innovation and learning, resulting in “the mixing of languages and cultures that enrich our world today,” he said.

“Class of 2025, you face similar dichotomies,” said Taylor, with wealth and power flowing from the rapidly changing world ruled by computing, big data, and artificial intelligence. “It is all moving so fast, it’s hard to see what is really happening, how power is shifting, and what direction the world is going.”

Despite an unwritten future, Taylor said this graduating class has demonstrated “exemplify humanity at its best.”

“I observed as you looked after your friends and supported one another, expressing your love and care in dozens of languages. I have watched you celebrate the diversity and multiculturalism of your community through dance and play, through food and dress. I have heard you advocate against injustice and stay true to your beliefs, even when that means standing up to power, and I have taken great pride in your collaboration, courtesy, compassion and kindness,” Taylor said.

Class President Mark Guzelian spoke of the uniqueness of the senior class: the first to sell 587 prom tickets, to have a full senior thesis Capstone exhibition, and to NOT have a senior prank.

“In other words, we’ve not been first at very much … [S]o I went back to brainstorming, what makes the class of 2025 unique?” he asked. First, it “is all the people in it,” each contributes their own gifts – in sports, theater, music, and academic excellence – during the past four years.

“But all of us will go on to make greater contributions to society in our own way,” Guzelian said, whether running labs, getting advanced degrees, going on to trade school to learn skills that keep society functioning, starting businesses, or becoming teachers. He advised his classmates to face the challenges “thrown at us” with patience, which he said “is not much valued.” 

Saying that success will not be handed on a platter and that perseverance through challenges is necessary, Guzelian said, “We will need to have patience and not rush through life trying to achieve things when perhaps it’s not the right time. Just remember that sometimes patience will need to be part of the process.”

Honored with a School Committee award for outstanding achievement, Jordan McCarty—who was awarded the Yale Book Award, is a World Cup medalist in fencing, and is an outstanding jazz musician who will attend New York University—said his father advised him to “first do the things you have to do, then do the things you want to do.” 

While he and many in the class are “guilty of draining away time on our phones,” McCarty said. “Instead, what I would want is to spend my time with those close to me and make timeless memories with them. To me, this has begun to fall under the category of things I have to do. You have to be able to enjoy your time. So take a breather, enjoy the present, and appreciate all the little moments.”

“I believe true happiness comes from the connections you form with other people and how you spend your time with them. Time quickly becomes our most important asset, and is important how we use it in this world. The one thing you can’t get back is your time. So cherish the time that you do have, spend it with people you love, and don’t regret one moment. That’s all that matters,” said 

After a performance of Stephen Paulus’ “The Road Home” by the BHS Chorus, each graduate crossed the dais to receive their diploma and have dozens of photographs documenting their journey. Soon, caps were flung skyward as the ceremony would beat the rain by less than an hour. 

‘Statement’ Win As Belmont High Girls’ Lacrosse Edge Defending State Champs, 13-12

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont High’s junior midfield all-star Niamh Lesnik

What better way is there to prep for prom than taking down the defending state champs at home? Ask the members of Belmont High Girls Lacrosse because they did just that edging Central Catholic, the Division 1 2024 state champions, 13-12, on Thursday, May 15, at Harris Field.

Four consecutive goals over five minutes in the fourth quarter – the final pair from junior midfield all-star Niamh Lesnik – and four minutes of shut down defense allowed the Marauders (11-6, 14th in the MIAA Power Rankings) to pick up its biggest win as the season heads to the home stretch this week.

For Head Coach Dan O’Brien, it was a lot more than putting the program into double digits in wins.

Belmont High’s senior defense Keira Healy

“This was a statement win not just for the season, but for the program,” said O’Brien, as it not only came against a top 10 squad – CC is 7th in the MIAA Division 1 power rankings – the Marauders came from behind for the vistory, coming back from two goals down (8-10) with two minutes to go in the third quarter to outscore a perannial top playoff seed five goals to two.

“We had a ton of confidence in the forwards. We have eight different goal scorers against a top 10 team. We don’t have to rely on just one player,” said O’Brien. One of the goals came from an unlikely source, senior defender Tyler Mayall, who celebrated by jumping up and down to her teammates delight.

On the break: Belmont High’s senior mid Anna Santos

Lesnik – who scored her 200th career point in a win over Woburn on Tuesday, May 13 – continues to brings a spark to O’Brien’s lineup. After a slow start, Lesnik ended the game with five goals, a lot of ground balls, and, when needed, winning critical center draws. Junior goalie Brooke Whalen once again collected double digit saves as Mayall, juniors Julia Leveroni and Ellie Baird, and seniors Bailey Cumbo and Keira Healy were stellar in the defensive half.

Central Catholic is the sort of elite opponant O’Brien scheduled throughout the season. “You get to be the best by playing the best,” he said, noting he continues to up the quality of opponent the squad takes on. And accepting that challenge has begun to pay dividends.

“We are holding our own against top teams like Andover (7-9), North Andover (9-10), losing on a last second winner) and Westford (9-11). And at this point of the season, we are executing our game plan to where we are now in the position to win.”

Belmont goes against one loss Lexington on Monday, May 19, and finishes the season against Winchester and Billerica.

Belmont High’s sophomore attack Natalie Merrow
Game winner from senior mid all-star Niamh Lesnik

First Week ’25 Town Meeting: New Moderator Passes Day One Test; No ‘Nos’ On Second Day

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Town Moderator Mike Crowley leads 2025 Town Meeting on first night of annual gathering

It’s a notice that no one had on their Town Meeting BINGO© card.

“We’re having technical difficulties. Town Meeting will resume shortly.” 

That menacing message flashed on the big screen at the Belmont High School auditorium minutes after the start of the 2025 annual Town Meeting on Monday, May 5. Zoom dropped off, the sound system shut down to be replaced by an echo as electronic and internet gremlins played havoc with the town’s ambitious attempt at a hybrid meeting.

It was an inauspicious beginning for the first night of the annual gathering and for Mike Crowley‘s start as the Town’s Moderator. But Belmont Media’s Jeff Hansel and the town’s IT crowd chased the electronic elves off, and Crowley was finally able to have a successful—with a few hiccups, but nothing to remember—first night in charge of the Belmont Town Meeting.

“[The delay] was a good thing for me,” said Crowley on Wednesday. “I was able to relax at the podium for those extra minutes, and it helped,” he said. He added that he appreciated having the Town Clerk’s staff and a slew of experienced town employees and elected officials to help guide the way.

Before the night’s business got underway, the Select Board presented a proclamation to the former moderator, Mike Widmer, for his 40 years of “extraordinary” public service including 17 years as moderator, a town meeting member and his contributions to state – a quarter century leading the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation – and local finance. Widmer told the meeting that while he was proud of what he accomplished, “but nothing good in life really gets done alone,” acknowledging the cooperation of town employees and committee members.

“I love democracy,” he said, returning to a favorite theme as moderator. Noting that 288 residents ran for Town Meeting, and come out to the annual gathering “is a marvelous thing for this town and this country that were built on this democratic experiment. So don’t take it lightly the fact that some of this become routine. And don’t take lightly the privilege of stepping to the microphone and being able to say what you feel without the fear of recrimination,” said Widmer, to a standing ovation.

State of the Town: alot good, some not so

Elizabeth Dionne, Select Board chair, gave an unofficial ‘State of the Town’ address, with the familiar phrase as title: “The Best of Times, The Worst of Times.” On the best side of the ledger, “honest, competent local government” that allowed the town and schools to work collaboratively to produce a balanced budget that, for the first time, saw agreed-on spending limits. On the worst side, clouds loom over the fiscal year 2027 budget process, which will be a “more difficult” exercise. 

Dionne highlighted Belmont’s commitment to meeting the recommendations of the 2022 Collins Center report, which pointed out the town’s financial challenges: hiring Jennifer Hewitt to the town’s newly created Financial Director’s post, an appointed treasurer, and a board of assessors, and starting a multi-year Budget Advisory Committee. 

Dionne also praised the ramping up of the Information Technology Department under Chief Innovation Officer Chris McClure, a refocus on Planning and Economic Development to attract commercial and industrial activity, and the reorganization of the Community Services Department.

But while town continues to do more with less, “we have hit the outer limits of efficiencies on the municipal side,” as Belmont ratepayers are weighed down by “one of the state’s heaviest property tax burdens,” she said.

“Persuading voters to add to their already heavy tax burden will be an uphill battle, which means that we must demonstrate ongoing fiscal discipline before asking voters for another override,” said Dionne.

First Night: 800 Apples heading to the schools

Monday’s first night of Town Meeting saw Crowley complete more than half of the 20 articles in the warrant, many profunctory, such as elected officials’ salaries. Tomi Olsen (Precinct 6) did suggest Town Clerk Ellen Cushman receive a raise citing the office’s workload and professionalism.

Town Meeting approved two new revolving funds: for the new skating rink and solid waste management. Select Board Vice Chair Matt Taylor explained that the funds raised through fees would endure, and the money is used for specific activities; solid waste management would include mattress removal. Vince Stanton (Precinct 2) asked if the money in a revolving fund could be invested in, for example, money market securities to reap the benefit of increasing rates. Taylor responded, saying those funds work by taking in revenue and distributing it when needed over the year. Also, there are lots of governmental restrictions when investing town funds. (222-18-2)

The meeting approved the School Committee’s four-year lease-to-own financing contract with Apple for 800 iPads for Belmont’s youngest students, replacing the current inventory that is coming to the end of its useful life. The contract came before Town Meeting as it had exceeded the state’s three-year limit for such agreements. The members responded positively – actual cheers – when it was revealed that the funds came from the school’s budget rather than another source, such as free cash. (231-3-0)

Finally, Town Meeting approved an article asking the state legislature to pass home rule legislation that will allow the town to ban second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides, better known as rat poison. Rodents partake of the toxic bait but, unfortunately, pass it on to the rat’s predators—like hawks, owls, and eagles—which kill them. The article passed 222-5-2.

Night Two: Roads? Yes, yes, yes, etc, etc

In a report to the Town Meeting, Library Building Committee Kathy Keohane told members that while the $39.5 million new library project is on budget with enough contingency funds to offset any foreseeable cost hikes, the project’s timeline for substantial completion has been pushed back a week to November 1. 

“That puts us moving into the building in November and December, with the hope that we’ll have some targeted services open in the library in December with a brand new opening in January,” said Keohane. “We don’t want to compete with the holidays, so we’re going to wait for the quiet month of January and celebrate the heck out of that month.”

The articles 

If you saw the final tallies on Wednesday night’s articles, you’d probably think you saw the results of some authoritarian dictatorship. For seven of the eight times it voted on either an article or appropriations, not a single Town Meeting Member cast a ‘no’ vote. In fact, one member voted against allowing Assistant Town Clerk Meg Piccioneto to substitute for Town Clerk Ellen Cushman, who couldn’t attend Wednesday. Go figure.

Want a surefire way to start a conversation in Belmont? Bring up roads and sidewalks. That’s what happened on Wednesday night as a line of members formed before the two microphones on the auditorium floor and on Zoom when the total appropriation of $2.513 million—$2 million for streets and $512,266 for sidewalks—was brought before the meeting. While the article was to appropriate funds, many members took the opportunity to express, once again, their frustrations with Belmont’s infamous roadways and sidewalks. 

After being told by National Grid that two small gas leaks on her street had to be repaired before 2027 but the town scheduled road repairs in fiscal ’24, Corinne McCue Olmsted (Precinct 1) wondered if there was any coordination with the gas utility and the town so streets would not be dug up after the repair, Assistant Town Engineer Wayne Chouinard said while there is communication between the parties, sometimes the utility will miss a scheduled monthly meeting or something will fall through the cracks to create issues with ripping up the road. 

“National Grid is the bane of my existence,” said DPW Director Jay Marcotte. While the town has a five-year moratorium on any work after a repair, it does not apply to the utility. “We can work with them with the best intentions to figure out how they can get in and do their gas work to repair leaks, they may not get around to it. It’s extremely frustrating on our end.”

Rosemary Burke (Precinct 2) told the meeting that $2.5 million is “nowhere near what this town needs to spend on roads and sidewalks.” She contends that “all the roads are a mess … and there isn’t anyone that lives anywhere here that doesn’t have a terrible street.” 

“What kind of plan will the town come up with … to more substantially address the town’s serious infrastructure problem?” Burke asked. Marcotte said his department works with consultants who rate the town’s roadways and prioritize those streets that fall below a set standard, basically selecting the worst of the lot. 

Here’s a first for the Town Meeting: Emily Peterson called the question via Zoom. The appropriation passed 218-1-1

The answer: 157. Question: How many trees did the DPW plant in the past fiscal year? And that was nearly twice the average (80) of replacement trees placed throughout town, mainly on the green strips next to sidewalks, according to Marcotte. Town Meeting approved the Comprehensive Capital Budget Committee’s request of $35,000 for tree planting in FY ’25.

Article 3: Updating the 2004 Belmont Floodplan District zoning bylaw by modifying existing sections to meet new federal requirements and incorporating new definitions and use regulations. (233-0-0)

Article 12: Approve $3.1 million in funding for the water main replacement program. Now four decades on, the program has replaced 35.5 miles of the 39 miles of unlined steel water mains laid before 1929. Best part, a loan from the MWRA to do the work is interest free. (242-0-0).

Article 18: The quarter-century-old roof of the Chenery Upper Elementary School needs to be replaced. The first part of the three-year plan is installing new HVAC systems for $3.7 million. Possible rebates, grants for updated heating and cooling equipment, and any remaining funds from this year’s work will go towards the $4.2 million to replace the roof in fiscal ’27. (207-0-1)

Article 17: Capital Expenditures, totaling $668,000, included:

  • Council on Aging: An accessible van at $75,000. (216-0-0)
  • DPW: Tree planting and purchasing a dump truck for $135,000. (239-0-1)
  • Fire Department: $118,000 towards a $545,000 new ambulance, $90,000 for breathing apparatus (239-0-1)
  • $250,000 in Information Technology infrastructure upgrades and cables (213-0-0) 

Town Meet will reconvene at 7 p.m., Monday, May 12 at the Belmont High School auditorium.

Performing Arts Company Present Student Directed One Act Plays, May 8-10

By Leave a Comment

Photo: One Acts will take place in the Belmont High School Black Box Theater

Join the Belmont High Schoool Performing Arts Company for its annual Student Directed Festival of One Act plays. Featuring eight short works directed by PAC Juniors and Seniors, One Acts are a mix of comedy, drama and everything in between.

Performances: THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY at 7 p.m.

MAY 8-10 in the Belmont High School Black Box Theater

TICKET INFO:
ADULTS $10 / STUDENTS $5

TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED BELOW

https://belmontpac.booktix.com/dept/BHSPAC/e/1ACTS25

Belmont Girls’ Lacrosse Found Goals At The End Of The Rainbow As Marauders Top SpyPonders, 8-7

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont High sophomore midfielder Natalie Merrow taking chase after a shot in Belmont’s 8-7 victory vs. Arlington High on April 15.

Belmont HIgh Girls’ Lacrosse game against Arlington on a rainy Tuesday, April 15, was following a familiar script as the Marauders were on the wrong end of a 6-5 score late in the third quarter. The Marauders – missing a handful of senior players through injury and illness – looked close to falling below .500 early in a season

But as the storm clouds parted and the late afternoon sun broke through the departing clouds, a glorious double rainbow suddenly emerged over Harris Field and the High School. And putting a twist to the popular idiom, the Marauders found goals at the end of this rainbow as Belmont scored three consecutive tallies to take the victory, 8-7.

Senior attack Charlotte Mayall scored Belmont’s seventh followed by sophomore midfield Natalie Merrow with the game winner with the assist from fellow sophomore Lily Cook with a little over five minutes remaining. Merrow won the subsequent draw control and the Marauders played keep away in Arlington’s defensive zone for nearly the entire final period before the SpyPonders final score with 29 seconds remaining on the clock.

After eight of 20 games, Belmont sits at 4-4, with a important 15-14 victory over perannial Middlesex Freedom champs Melrose in its pocket. For Head Coach Dan O’Brien, there are encouraging signs for the second half of the season.

“We’ve battled in every game. We’ve had to come from behind quite a bit,” he said, pointing out that the team played that game with a midfield made up of a senior – Mayall – and three sophomores, “and today they competed and made plays, especially at the end,” said O’Brien. He had special recognition for junior goalie Brooke Whalen who has collected her fourth double-digit save game on Tuesday, earning player of the match.

“We’re getting good experience on how to win tough games, and that’s going to be helpful come tournament. And we’re going to have to get really better, because we’re going to go into a run where we meet [four top 20 teams], before we return of league play.”

“We’re gonna be in a gauntlet, all of May,” he said.

Incident At Belmont Middle And High Schools Leaves Two Belmont Light Workers Hospitalized

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont Middle and High School

A pair of Belmont Light workers are hosptialized in stable condition after a electical accident in a manhole at Belmont Middle and High School on Tuesday, April 8.

The blast cut power to the building housing the high and middle school, forcing the school to use generators for the remainder of the school day.

In a press release from the Belmont Fire Department, personnel were called to the school’s front parking lot shortly after 9:45 a.m. “Upon arrival, firefighters found two injured electrical workers that had been working in a manhole when an accident occurred.”

“This morning two Belmont Light line workers were involved in an electrical flash incident while working inside a manhole near Belmont High School,” according to a press release from the town’s electric utility.

“The line workers were wearing appropriate protective equipment and were able to exit the manhole under their own power. Both line workers were transported to Massachusetts General Hospital where they are in stable condition and are being treated for their injuries.”

In an email addressed to high school students and their families sent at 10:15 a.m., Belmont High School Principal Isaac Taylor said “[a]ll staff and students are safe and not impacted by the accident.”

Taylor said the accident “resulted in a power outage” throughout the building that houses grades 7-12. While lighting inside the schools were “limited,” the school day continued using in-house generators, which allowed hot lunches to be served.

Hair Metal Returns! BHS Performing Arts Company Rocks Out Spring Musical With ‘Rock Of Ages’

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Poster of the BHS PAC spring musical Rock of Ages

It’s a story about just a small town girl who took the midnight train going … to Los Angeles. It’s a story about a city boy born and raised in South Detroit who took the midnight train going … to Los Angeles. Both with stars in their eyes and a song in their heart.

That’s the set up for the musical “Rock of Ages,” (Teen Edition) this school year’s spring musical produced and performed by the Belmont High School Performing Arts Company.

“Nominated for five Tony Awards® including Best Musical, Rock of Ages will take you back into the iconic music era of the 80s, where rock-n-roll dreamers line up to turn their fantasies into reality — and you can be in the front row to watch it all come to life.” – Playbill

“Set in L.A.’s “infamous” Sunset Strip in 1987, Rock of Ages tells the story of Drew, a city-boy from South Detroit and Sherrie, a small-town girl, both in L.A. to chase their dreams of making it big and falling in love. Rock of Ages​ takes you back to the times of big bands with big egos playing big guitar solos and sporting even bigger hair!” – BHS PAC

ROCK OF AGES
​Book By Chris D’Arienzo, Arrangements and Orchestrations by Ethan Popp Including music by a bunch of Sweet 80’s bands including Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake and more groups you’ll can ask your parents about.

  • ​PERFORMANCES
  • Thursday, March 13 at 7 p.m.
  • Friday, March 14 at 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, March 15 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m​.
  • TICKET INFO
  • ADULTS: $15 in advance, $18 at the door
  • STUDENTS/CHILDREN: $10
  • BHS Students: $5 Thursday and Saturday Matinee, $10 Friday and Saturday 7pm performances.

Belmont Girls Hockey Takes Hingham To Last Minute Before Falling 2-1 In MIAA Quarterfinal

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont High goalie Jil Costa making one of her 37 saves against Hingham High in the quarterfinal in the MIAA Division 1 quarterfinals.

Speaking in the narrow hallway leading to his team’s locker room in Stoneham Arena, Belmont High Girls Hockey Head Coach Brendan Kelleher was trying to find the right words to describe the game his team played on Wednesday night. In the state quarterfinals for the second consecutive season, the Marauders fell just short, 2-1, against Hingham High on a final-minute goal.

Despite the disappointment of the result, Kelleher looked back at the effort and toughness of his team against the top Division 1 team in the state.

“We knew it was going be a one-nothing game, a two-to-one game,” said Kelleher.

“Well, the customers got their money’s worth today,” said Kelleher with a shurge and a smile. 
In a tightly fought contest that spotlighted both team’s top players, Hingham finally broke through Belmont’s stout defensive game plan on a reflexive pass toward the Marauder’s goal, “And you had a couple of sticks in there that ended with the puck in the net, and that’s the difference maker.”

For 44 minutes and 7 seconds, Belmont’s junior goalie Jil Costa stood as Belmont’s resolute redoubt, the last line of defense as the Marauders took on the onslaught from number 1-ranked Hingham.

“She stood on her head like she does every day for us,” said Kelleher. 

With her typical calm demeanor, Costa was rock solid between the posts. Only once in 38 attempts did Hingham get past Costa on a second-period goal via its all-star center Caroline Doherty. 

“They were just trying everything. I mean, they had girls coming and going all the time. We just tried keeping the outside, which we did for three periods,” said Kelleher.

The match was finally resolved on the Harborwomen’s 39 attempt: the game’s final shot. Hingham’s Callie Crean, who was parked just outside the crease, stabbed at a Doherty-induced rebound that slipped between Costa’s pads into the net. 2-1 with 53 seconds left in the game and the season. 

“They were bringing it,” said Kelleher. “We would bend a little, but we didn’t break. And then it was just a puck that popped in.” 

It was nothing less than a dream start for the Marauders when first-year winger Alexcia Fici, cycling behind the net, found co-captain Sadie Taylor alone in the slot. The team’s only senior whistled a slap shot by Hingham’s Izzi Puleo, and Belmont grabbed a 1-0 lead on the Marauder’s first shot on net just 2:37 in the first period.

“Sadie drove the ship all year for us. Her work ethic is stays alone. She drove the first line – Mackenzie and Alexi – which was the reason our season was such a success,” said Kelleher. 

The top D line of sophomore Elise Lakin-Schultz and eighth grader Amelia Long and Kelleher’s second line, Middle School Kate Townsend with junior co-captain Thea Menovich, were in top form. On several occasions, the defenders tracked down Hingham’s talented forwards, pushing them to the outside where their shots were a leisurely game of catch for Costa. Lakin-Schultz was often took on the laborious task of rooting out Harborwomen and screening her goalie.

The offense in the first half of the game was buzzing the Harborwomen’s defense. “We had our chances,” said Kelleher. Belmont’s leading scorer, junior Mackenzie Clarke, had three chances as the clock wound down in the first period, which ended with 10 shots for Hingham and 7 for Belmont. 

The start of the second period turned out to be a bright point for Belmont as momentun sided with them, with Menovich coming close when her shot confused Puleo. But the 10-minute mark would be the zenith of the Marauder’s attack as Hingham would reestablish their dominance as it kept possession for long stretches, forcing Belmont deeper into its own end. 

Hingham’s breakthrough came after Long blocked a shot that Doughty collected to the right of Costa. The Holy Cross-commit picked up her own rebound and buried the puck at 8:35 of the second to knot the game at one. The one-way play was evident as Hingham held a more than 2-1 advantage in shots, 12-5, in the period. 

The ultimate period saw Hingham pressure the Belmont defense, adding a fourth forward on the ice as they sought to finish the job before the vagaries of sudden death would decide the game. Costa would be peppered with 17 shots as Belmont mustered four in the period. 

The winning play began with a positive play as Belmont’s Long tracked down attacking winger Hannah Lasch and sent her to the boards. Lasch turned and quickly passed the puck toward the crease, where Lakin-Schultz covered a pair of Hingham players. Doherty redirected the puck that Costa saved. The rebound was directed to Hingham’s Crean, who came from the blind side, and she squeezed the puck between Costa’s pads.

“What can you say? Hingham is a great team, solid up and down the lineup with great coaches. They deserve their placement, and we proved tonight that we can play with them for an entire game. I’ll take that,” said Kelleher. 

In the postgame wrap-up in the Stoneham hallway, Kelleher said his team’s despondency from the loss – consecutive MIAA quarterfinals that ended up short – should not overwhelm its achievements: one-loss season, a top 10 power ranking, a place at the end of the regular season in the Boston Globe’s Top 20, and notably, consecutive Middlesex Liberty titles.

“This [game] takes nothing away from what the season was and what they accomplished,” said Kelleher. “Someone said to me before the season that this was a rebuilding year. So I think what they did was something else.”

Belmont High Girls Hockey Reach State Elite Eight As Clarke Continues To Be Reading’s Curse

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont’s fans and the team celebrate the Marauders 1-0 shutout victory over Reading in the MIAA Division 1 Girls Hockey state tournament.

Belmont High’s MacKenzie Clarke has a knack for scoring big goals against Middlesex Liberty rival Reading Memorial on the field hockey pitch. In October, Clarke – a Boston Globe All-Scholastic – scored twice in a 2-1 win over a top-10-ranked Rockets, propelling the Marauders to a league title. 

You can now add the ice rink where Clarke broke Reading’s heart as the junior forward buried a power play goal with two minutes left on the clock to put Belmont in the Division 1 state Elite Eight as the Marauders defeated Reading, 1-0, in a Sweet 16 match held at Watertown’s Ryan Arena on Saturday, March 1. 

Belmont High Hockey’s Sadie Taylor in her usual place in front of the opponent’s goal crease

Belmont, the eighth-seed, will now face the epic challenge of facing number one-ranked Hingham High at Stoneham Arena. The puck drops at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5.

Clarke’s game-winner came while Belmont was on a 5-4 power play after Reading was called for a trip with 2:40 left in the third period. Off the face-off, first-year forward Alexcia Fici took the puck at the left circle and slotted a pass to Clarke who was waiting in the slot. With senior co-captain Sadie Taylor camped in front of the goalie, the season’s leading scorer redirected the puck into the back of the net with approximately 2:30 remaining. 

“That was our first powerplay of the game, and we have been working on being up a player. We finally got into our positions … and Lexi Fici passed it to me, and I just tipped it in,” said Clarke.

The league rivals faced off on Saturday for the third time this season, with Belmont claiming a victory and a tie. Familiar with each other approach to the game, the match was tightly fought over the 45 minutes. 

As throughout the season, Belmont’s second-year Head Coach Brendan Kelleher relied on his top defense pairing of sophomore Elise Lakin-Schultz and eighth grader Amelia Long to stifle Reading’s quickness. All-star junior goalie Jil Costa (giving up less than one goal on average per game) was solid in the net, especially when the Rockets swarmed the crease.

“Anxiety does have a tendency to build as a tie game goes on,” said Costa. “I instead focus on what I can control, which is keeping my body forward, keeping my hands in front, cutting off whatever angles are possible. My mentality the whole time is just save the puck and win the game.” 

Belmont had its chances on offense with Taylor, the team’s only senior, showing her dominance along the boards, both behind and in front of the net. Taylor had a golden opportunity in the second period when she nearly slipped in a loose puck in the crease only to see it sneak off her stick’s blade. 

The Taylor, Clark, and Fici line created scoring opportunities but could not find the finishing touch in the game. It didn’t help that Reading stole the momentum on three consecutive power plays, two in the second period. The Marauders’ second line of first-year Mia Smith, junior Sydney Mun, and eighth-grader Mackenzie Tierney effectively put their time in the offensive zone. 

As the third period was winding down and the players and fans were preparing for sudden-death overtime, fortune struck for the Marauders when the Rockets were called for a consequential trip in the Belmont zone, a decision that isn’t usually called so late in a playoff game. 

And Reading would be punished harshly for the infraction with Clarke’s poke. The Rockets did make it interesting in the final two minutes by pulling the goalie, a decision that Clarke nearly made them pay for when she rocketed a rink-long attempt that clanged off an inside post.

After a sigh of relief, Belmont’s attention now turns to Hingham (21-1-1) which defeated Shrewsbury, 4-2, on Saturday.The Harbormen have held the top spot in the D1 power rankings and the Boston Globe Top 20 poll for most of the season, while Belmont (17-1-4) is 17th in the Globe.

“It’s not worrying about their place in the tournament; it’s about fighting as hard as we can,” said Clarke. “It will be a hard game, but I think we can still give them a good fight.”