Soccer Night Success: Belmont High Girls, Boys Soccer Remain Undefeated Winning Home Town Tourney

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Photo: The Belmont High Girls’ with its silverware

Before one of the largest crowds each team will likely play before this season, both of Belmont High’s varsity soccer teams remained unbeaten as the Boys’ and Girls’ carried off the silverware as winners of the Soccer Night in Belmont tourney held Saturday, Sept. 19 on Harris Field. 

[On Wednesday, both Belmont teams remained undefeated, with the Girls’ defeating host Wakefield, while the Boys’ drew 1-1 against visitors from Wakefield]

Girls’ Power Past Strong Westford Academy Squad in 2-0 Shutout

A game-winning goal in the first three minutes of the game by junior Casaie Grinder and an insurance tally from Elsa Dubois off a header early in the second half spurred a solid, complete team effort as Belmont (4-0) shut out Westford Academy (2-2) 2-0 in the first game of the doubleheader. Both goals were assisted by sophomore Clara Sciandra, the second coming from her corner kick.

If a good baseball team is built “up the middle” with an outstanding catcher, pitcher, second and shortstop, and center fielder, Belmont has constructed a strong squad similarly with three-year starting senior goalkeeper Martha Dimas, a top notch central defender in Dubois, the veteran midfield tandem of seniors Zoe Marion and Madhavi Ramadas, and forward Sciandra at the point of the spear. 

Belmont is built from the back with a young but solid defensive corps that tracks down opponents and thaws any dangerous runs into the box, resulting in two clean sheets this year. Dubois captains the defense like a sentinel on the bulwark, calling out coverage and any strategic changes on the field. 

“My main goal was to talk to all of my teammates. Just trying to get everybody under control to stop being super stressed over the ball. Even if I was very nervous at the start, going through the game, my one goal was to make sure everybody was included in the play.”

Against Westford, that cohesive approach Dubois spoke of was demonstrated when junior defender Vianne Capitani cleared a shot from the Belmont goal line while covering a corner attempt midway through the second half. 

“We work very hard,” said the sophomore starter. “We try to stick together and communicate with each other because it’s super important to stay together to make sure none of us like break apart or go off too far. So as long as we’re in line and really kind of try to stay like in a brick formation, and one goes up, pressure cover balance.

And the goal for the remainder of the season is elementary for Dubois.

“We’re going for a strong year. We’re hoping to make it further in the playoffs this year than we did last year.” 

“You went to the semifinals last year [after defeating the top seed Needham in the quarterfinals before falling to the eventual MIAA Division 1 state champions Natick],” she was reminded.

“Yes, we want to take it all,” said Dubois.

Boys’ Continuous One Goal Win Streak with 2-1 Victory Over Newton North

It came out of nowhere.

As the tussle between Belmont and Newton North appeared to be heading towards a tie [and under the tournament’s rules the game would be decided by penalty kicks), Marauder senior Itai Golani found himself in space in the center of the field with 17 minutes remaining. But being more than 25 meters from goal, it would have been prudent for the midfielder to find a teammate in the penalty box.

But rather than be cautious, Golani let loose a rocket that took a straight line into the back of the net. Set off the celebrations.

With senior goalie David Klimasmith anchoring the defense – and stopping a one-on-one encounter in the final seconds of the game – allowed Belmont Boys’ to lift the tournament trophy. Belmont took the lead three minutes into the second half on a fortunate fumble from the Newton North goalie. While saving a cross, the keeper allowed the ball to come off his leg and onto the foot of Belmont senior Allessio Elia, who spun quickly to deposit the ball into the upper netting.

Belmont Field Hockey Takes Down Long-Time Nemesis Watertown, 2-1, In Season Opener

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Photo: Teammates surround Belmont High School goalie Zoe Bruce after the Marauders’ 2-1 victory over Watertown.

It was a long time coming.

A pair of goals from senior captain Elsie Lakin-Schultz and a near flawless performance (10 saves) by junior goalie Zoe Bruce (10 saves) highlighted a complete team effort from the 12th-ranked Belmont High Field Hockey in defeating the 22 time state champions and 9th-ranked Watertown High Raiders, 2-1, in the season opener for both teams on Sept. 9.

You couldn’t dream up a more satisfying start of Head Coach Jessie Smith’s third decade leading the program. Not only did she come off Watertown’s Victory Field having taken down Belmont’s arch rival for the first time in nearly 20 years, the victory was also Smith’s 250th in her stellar career.

“This is a great way to start the season as we’re playing a really hard schedule,” said Smith after the game.

Belmont High Head Coach Jessie Smith

“I think a lot of people are going to be surprised (with the result),” said Smith. “I think when you look at the preseason rankings, people were saying, ‘Belmont, they had their run and they’re kind of done.’ And while our win is great, I don’t want to say, ‘OK, we’re great now.’ That’s one win. We have a long season to go.”

And Belmont’s convincing victory was no fluke, as three days later the Raiders defeated 2nd-ranked Somerset Berkeley, 3-2.

Belmont showed its team strength on both sides of the ball, demonstrating a fluid passing game on offense.

“We have triangles all over the field, looking for each other, and that 10-yard pass is deadly in field hockey, just with changing direction and especially inside the attack area,” said Smith. 

And the Marauders’ pressing midfield defense pressured Watertown for the entire contest, disrupting the Raiders’ offensive flow. 

“We have Elsie pushing up, so she’s almost like a fourth midfielder. And then we were doubling (covering the player with the ball with two defenders) all over the field. I mean, they wanted this game,” Smith said of her team.

Smith pointed out that “at different times in the game, different players stepped up, and we literally relied on every single person on the field today, which was just so great to see.”

Belmont struck first five minutes into the match when first-year defender Lucie Lakin-Schultz fed her sister just inside the 16-meter shooting circle. Elsie Lakin-Schultz drove the ball just inside the near post to put Belmont up 1-0 at the 9:49 mark, giving the Marauders its first-ever lead in Watertown since the mid-2000s. 

It was then up to three-year starter Bruce to hold the fort against Watertown’s midfielders, who found space down the middle of the field. A big pad save two minutes after Belmont scored was followed by three saves in quick succession. Lucie Larkin-Schultz helped Bruce as a last line of stopping a partial breakaway in the final three minutes of the quarter. 

“Zoe was unbelievable today,” said Smith, pointing to a late-game save where a scrambling Bruce got a piece of the ball on the goal line that Smith categorizes as “unreal.” 

“As a third-year starting goalie, she knows to step up and take the ball instead of standing on the line and clearing a save wide and not back into the field,” said Smith. “Those things really matter, and she does it much more automatically. It’s just unbelievable.”

For the majority of the game, the action took place in the center of the field with each team’s midfielders controlling the game. 

“Playing Watertown is always just very hectic; they’re always on the ball, always yelling at each other,” said Mia Smith, Belmont’s junior mid, who was joined in the midfield by senior co-captain Nataile Merrow, sophomore Kate Townsend and first-year Reagan Moulis.

“It’s just a very stressful situation on the field, so you have to drum out the noise and just play your own team’s game. As Belmont, we work together. We don’t yell at each other, and I think that’s just what kept us sticking to our game plan,” said Smith, who celebrated her 17th birthday with the win.

Watertown would break through midway in the third on a shot from in close that beat Bruce’s outstretched stick. But Belmont would retake the lead with 90 seconds remaining in the third quarter off a penalty corner. The Marauders kept the ball in play, and a rebound found its way back to Elsie Laken-Schultz. 

“The ball just popped off off the goalie’s pads and I hit it as hard as I could into the back of the net,” said Lakin-Schultz. “There are a lot of touches from all my teammates, so I really couldn’t have done it without them.”

Elsie Lakin-Schultz (23) scoring the game winner vs. Watertown

“[Elsie] was looking for the corners with each goal, which is what we’ve been working on at practice,” said Smith. “You could see that she was very intentional with her shooting. She took a second to look and finish the job that five other players who had a touched the ball in a circle.” 

The score line would stand up for the remaining 16 minutes as Bruce would make a pair of exceptional saves in the final five minutes. When the final horn sounded, the team held a collective on-field celebration worthy of a 20+ year wait.

Postgame, Smith spotlighted the depth of her bench, where “we can take a new person out there, especially in the forward line. We have tons of strong forwards – notably seniors Avery Reinold and Kendall Regan – so we can keep them fresh. They’re also able to really help back defensively but also spring forward with the ball.” 

For co-captain Elsie Lakin-Schultz, she views the victory as “really setting the tone for the rest of the season, and if this is where we’re starting, I can only expect us to get better and better and better.”

New Look Girls’ Volleyball Squad Ready To Make Confidence Run In Middlesex League

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Photo: Belmont High Girls’ Volleyball prepping for the coming season

Second-year Belmont High Girls Volleyball Head Coach Raylynn Kauila now has a team that has begun playing under “her” system. With a young team and not as big in the front line as recently, what’s going to drive the team is being poised and positive. 

“My overall philosophy is all about confidence because if they believe they can, they will. But the second they think they can’t do something, they won’t. And so in terms of hitting, playing defense, putting up a block, like, once a player doubts themselves, they are their own worst enemy. They will hold themselves back,” she said.

And Belmont plays in a very competitive Middlesex League where any dip in its conviction, the Marauders, will have its hands full battling playoff contenders headed by Winchester (19-1 last season) and a slew of Division II powerhouses in Wakefield, Burlington, Reading, and Melrose. 

“We’re very young all around,” said Kaulia. The team lost a number of key starters from last year’s team, including record-breaking assist leader Sophia Qin. 

Kauila will use two players in the key role: senior captain Katya Polina and sophomore Sophia Wang. “She’s enormous shoes to fill, but I am confident with who we have ready to step up now.” The pair will be feeding the ball to a pair of returning outside hitters, junior captain Danbi Kim and sophomore Emma Miao.

“Both of them were really big last year. They were really key players. Danbi started a lot, and then Emma did really well coming off the bench,” said Last year, it was intimidating being behind so many senior outsides. But Emma did a good job as a freshman on varsity, like coming off the bench ready. She definitely earned her starting spot this year.

Belmont’s youth will be found in its back line. The one returning varsity player, senior Sofia Pavlou, will be mentoring a group of players who will be on the court.

“Pavlou didn’t play as many games last year because our senior libero last year, Zulal Merdinian, she was just phenomenal. Sophia did a really good job of learning from Zulal. So we’re hoping that her senior leadership will help fill that role there. They are young in terms of varsity experience, but they do a good job of keeping up. They’ve played club. Furthermore, they are putting in the work during practice and outside on their own time.”

Senior captain LeeLee Kozelian will anchor the front line from the middle position. “She’s a force to be reckoned with at the net, whether it’s blocking or hitting. She’s going to be like our true utility player: wherever we need her, she’s ready to go.” Kozelian will be joined up front by Polina “one of our bigger blockers as well” along with our middle blocker, Lucy Warner. 

Belmont starts the league season Tuesday, Sept. 8 vs. Watertown at the Wenner. Not one of the stronger teams, Kauila will not have her charges overlook the Red Raiders or any team they face this season.

“I want us going into every game not underestimating a team. They aren’t the best, but I do know that they will sneak up on us if we’re playing lazy, if we’re not pushing ourselves,” said Kauila. “I want to hold us to a standard, no matter who we are playing against. And so Watertown will show me if the girls are also believing that and holding that standard. And if they aren’t, then they will quickly have to get it together. I’ll play girls who understand that we need to keep that standard, no matter who it is.”

Last year Belmont made the MIAA Division 1 tournament as the 24 seed with a 10-9 record. Does Kauila see a return to the post season?

“I think we could be a tournament team if it’s all going to come down to our confidence,” she said. “Our hitters are there. Our defense is there. Our blocks are there. Our chemistry is coming along, and it’s trusting each other to have each other’s back when playing defense. So if we put it all together throughout the season, I think we could make it to the tournament.”

In The Heat Of The Moment: Belmont High Girls Rugby Captures 8th Straight State Title Beating Weymouth, 36-24

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Photo: Belmont High Girls Rugby Senior Captain Capucine “Cappy” Detheux holding the MIAA Girls’ Rugby championship trophy after the Marauders defeated Weymouth, 36-24, on June 11

Three scoring tries from Belmont’s standout junior Rebecca Christensen and a masterful demonstration of solo and group tackling from its backs led Belmont High Girls Rugby to win the program’s eighth consecutive MIAA State Rugby title, defeating a talented Weymouth High, 36-24, at Quincy’s Memorial Stadium on Thursday, June 11.

With the victory, Belmont remains the only program to have won the Division 1 crown, starting in 2016 with only the COVID pandemic preventing championship matches in 2020 and 2021. 

In postgame comments to her team, Belmont Head Coach Kate McCabe, who originated the program in the mid-2010s and has led the team since, said the players demonstrated a “beautiful display of heart” during the game.

“You should be so proud of the rugby that you played,” said McCabe, just before she was drenched with a “Gatorade Bath” from three of her players.

With the temperature pitchside breaching 100 degrees on the sun-soaked turf field (requiring water breaks every 10 minutes), and with a pair of starting forwards in senior prop Maria Ocampo Fram and super sub junior Timkkha Mukwazhi on the bench with injuries, Belmont’s young team – having graduated 13 of 15 senior starters from the 2025 team – understood they would have their hands full with a Wildcats team that has greatly improved in the past three years.

“We knew coming in that Weymouth was going to be such a challenging opponent. They run so hard, they play really beautiful possession rugby,” said McCabe. “They kept our regular season game close (a 42-24 Belmont home victory on May 15), so this would be certainly a battle out there.” 

An important factor in the win was a day of aggressive tackling on Weymouth’s runners, including its impact players Nicole Moraes and Delaney Barhight. From the start, Belmont’s junior center LeeLee Kozelian, junior wing Claire Ferreira, junior flyhalf Nina Lind and senior ‘8’ and captain Cappy Detheux gave the Wildcats little space to break into the open field. During many of its phases, Weymouth would be stalled or lose territory from Belmont’s defensive stance. 

“It was really about consistently making those tackles to get the opportunity to reclaim possession, and when we had ball in hand, getting over our rucks and keeping the ball, and the opportunities would arrive,” said McCabe.

“I think it was really hard in the heat, but we play together around the ball and that really made a big difference,” said Detheux.

On offense, the team would look up to its all-star Christensen to lead the way. 

“A lot of people would look at the fact that [Christensen]’s very tall, she knows how to run through contact, and imagine that is the thing about Becca that’s impressive,” said McCabe. “But she has tremendous rugby IQ; she sees space, she is a constant voice on the field, directing where traffic goes, distributing the ball, and calling plays at set pieces.”

The game

Both teams began on the front foot, with Belmont cracking the scoreboard first when senior fullback Farrah Harris showed her wing speed turning the defensive corner then cutting inside the last defender and cruised 30 meters untouched into the try zone after seven minutes to give the Marauders a 5-0 lead. 

But Weymouth’s Moraes would punish Belmont by intercepting a long and slow back pass and trotted opposed to try at 10:24. Only a missed conversion kept the Wildcats from taking the lead. 

Belmont started attacking Weymouth’s defensive middle with Christensen scoring her first try with a 10-meter push at the 15-minute mark to up the advantage to 12-5. Just under four minutes later, sophomore wing Cece Held took a great delivery to streak down the left sideline, giving the Marauders a 17-5 lead.

But just as it appeared Belmont was starting to pull away, a stolen ball by Weymouth after the kickoff put the Wildcats deep in the Marauders end. And while there was some debate on the sideline that Belmont had prevented the ball from being grounded in the end zone, the try was given, and the subsequent conversion cut the lead to five, 17-12 at the 23-minute mark.

The next 10 minutes saw many possessions change via the knock-on rule – a players miss handling the ball that advances – on both sides as the heat began taking a toll on both teams. But a late Belmont surge into Wildcat territory saw Held repeat her sideline sprint to score with a minute and a half remaining to double Belmont’s lead to 22-12 at the halftime whistle. 

Despite going down to 14 after a player was sent off due to a 10-minute yellow card penalty, Belmont came out of the locker room with the momentum, nearly scoring twice in the first five minutes with an apparent try disallowed as the ball was held up. The third venture towards the Wildcat tryline proved successful as Christensen rammed the ball into the try from a meter out to push Belmont’s lead to 29-12. 

After a Marauder penalty placed the ball deep inside Belmont’s end, Wildcat MVP Delaney powered through for a try at the 49-minute mark to cut the Marauders’ advantage to 12 points (29-17). But Weymouth’s hoped-for comeback would be hampered by its own yellow card, removing the offending participant for a critical 10 minutes. 

With possession, Belmont battered Weymouth, launching power runs at its center. With its line weakened by heat and assault, the Wildcat front buckled as Christensen scored her most impressive try of the game: a crashing, spinning, and ultimately diving coup de grâce putting the Marauders up by 17 with 12 minutes remaining. 

After her final try, Christensen came to the sideline and told McCabe, “I have nothing more.” 

“That’s all we’re asking for, right? Go out there and give everything that you have, and [Christensen] certainly put it all out there on the field tonight.” 

Delaney would have the final say for the Wildcats with a weaving, slalom-like sprint for a try at 10 minutes on the clock. But once it regained the ball, Belmont essentially ran out the clock to secure its eighth title.

After the game, McCabe said winning the championship started back in the cold and wet of March.

“We talk at the beginning of the season that the goal is to get here, and that’s all we talk about. So I think it means a lot to each player, and they each have their own answer about that. For us, as coaches, I think getting to this game is the thing that we’re most proud of, and what happens on the field the players control, and it’s not so much about us. That’s why I’m so proud of them.” 

After ‘Insane’ Finale, Belmont High Girls Lacrosse Awaits Waltham In MIAA Tourney Opener Wednesday

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Photo: Belmont High’s senior attack Niamh Lesnik scored the Marauders’ final six goals including the game winner to beat Central Catholic, 13-12, to end its season at 13-5 and a 14 seed in the MIAA Div. 1 Girls’ Lacrosse tournament

After winning what several players deemed an “insane” final game of the season, Belmont High Girls’ Lacrosse hosts the opening game of the 2026 MIAA tournament in a cross border clash against Waltham High on Wednesday, May 27.

The match gets underway at 6 p.m. at Harris Field.

And the most recent contest – a wild 13-12 victory over Central Catholic High of Lawrence – is an indication that Belmont is a team entering the MIAA Div. 1 tourney on a high.

“It was unbelievable,” said Dan O’Brien, Belmont’s Head Coach who has put together three seasons of 13 regular season wins – along with a 14 wins in 2024.

It was no meaningless game as Belmont was hanging on to its 14th placement by 8/10,000th of a point over Beverly in the MIAA Power Rankings entering the final games. The Marauders traveled to the Merrimack Valley to face 13th-ranked Central Catholic on its seniors game. A loss could see Belmont fall possibly two places and draw a stronger opponent in the playoffs. This would be a must win for the Marauders and they performed.

Belmont’s Sydney Mun

“The girls had a lot of energy, a lot of hype for the whole entire game,” said one participant.

It was a particulary tight game which a player discribed as “either we were down one, up one, or we were tied.” Belmont’s defense came through with a pair of backline replacements in attack Reese Bundy and Eva Sen each who “did an incredible job against [the CC] attack,” said O’Brien. Senior Goalie Brooke Hanser contributed saving seven shots, that included her 300th of her career

Speedy defender Lily Cook was O’Brien’s defensive MVP, winning ground balls, making six clears – in which Cook advanced the ball from the defensive to the offensive end – and riding opponants like crazy up the field.

Belmont’s Lily Cook in action against Wilmington

On the offensive side, senior attack Sydney Mun tallied seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) and Nora Goulding came away with a goal and three assists.

Trailing 5-6, it was in the second half when the game went a little loopy. As CC was scoring, they were also picking up yellow penalty cards for serious fouls mostly for dangerous checking, that forced the offending player to sit out for a two-minute penalty. And midway through the third quarter and the score tied at 8-8, CC accumulated its fourth yellow which required the Raiders to play the rest of the game a player down.

With the man advantage, it was time for Belmont’s All-Star to shine, as senior Niamh Lesnik stepped up to take control of the offense. The Fairfield University-bound midfielder scored a natural hat-trick – three consecutive goals – to propel Belmont into a lead.

But Belmont would commit a foul and CC – in front of enthusiastic fans – was able to score three of their own to go up 12-11 going into the final quarter of the regular season.

With a chance to eck out a victory, CC received a fifth yellow – to the utter chagrin of its coach – resulting in two of its players sitting-down, forcing the hosts into full defensive mode attempting to protect its one goal lead.

Despite drawing the attention of the Raiders’ best defender, Lesnik would knot the game up midway through the quarter before taking a pass from Goulding in the final two minutes to take the victory back to Belmont, as Belmont’s co-captain scored eight of Belmont’s 13 goals, securing the 14th seed.

“A great win to take into the tournament,” said O’Brien.

Traditional Thanksgiving Football Game Moves Back A Day To Wednesday Under The Lights

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Photo: Belmont High Football will be celebrating future Thanksgiving victory over Watertown a day early and under the lights.

A century old tradition of a Thanksgiving Day gridiron battle between Belmont and Watertown is no more as the teams will take their historic rivalry a day earlier, this year on Wednesday, Nov. 25, under the lights on Belmont’s Harris Field.

The day change was announced by Belmont Athletic Director Adam Pritchard on Thursday, April 23.

While most Turkey Day games are moved to Wednesday due to pending bad weather or the teams are invited to clash at Fenway Park as Belmont and Watertown were in 2022, the move to will allow players, bands members and fans to have a relaxing Thanksgiving morning and for families to get an early start to meet relatives or travel.

While the games at Harris and Watertown’s Victory fields are well attended, Pritchard said he expects fans will be motiviated to come out as each school will hold their annual pep rallies earlier in the day and it will be a “great way to start the holiday under the lights,” said Pritchard.

While a tradition in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, most high schools around the country have finished their football season weeks before with many states holding their finals or semifinals on the Thanksgiving weekend. In addition, the National Football League is likely to add a night game on a Thanksgiving Wednesday next season.

Belmont High Girls’ Tennis Jumps To 5-2 Start; Set To Face Three Unbeaten Squads This Week

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Photo: Belmont High’s first year Isha Appadewedula

While Belmont High Head Girls’ Tennis Coach Eileen White said she and her team were eager for spring’s arrival as they were getting ready to make another run in the MIAA tournament.

What White – in her 21st year leading the Marauders – and the team had also hoped for was for some early spring-like weather to prep for the season.

“It doesn’t help when it’s in the 40s and windy for the first month,” said White, who led Belmont to an 11-8 record in 2025 and a first-round home match in the Division 1 tourney.

“I think that’s been a little bit of a transition from training indoors to be like, ‘Oh my, there’s wind, there’s sun, there’s noise’ and things like that. I think everybody, even the girls who have played in the past season and you’ve played inside all winter, it’s an adjustment.”

Despite playing through a frigid early spring weather and enduring twisted ankles that threw the projected lineups over the side, Belmont has compiled a 5-2 record, winning its first three matches by identical 4-1 margins while dropping what White “annoyingly tight” 2-3 encounter to Arlington in blustery, cold conditions.

And just warmer temperatures have arrived, so Belmont will playing three undefeated teams in Westford (4-0), Lexington (5-0), and Winchester (5-0). [Belmont were swept by non-league opponent Westford Ghosts, 5-0, on Monday.]

Heading one of the most cosmopolitan teams at Belmont High – the players speak 13 languages and come from a diverse array of cultures and countries – White has every expectation the team will be playing extra matches after the end of the regular season.

“We’re competing as always. We expect to be hopefully in the state tournament and we expect to be challenging for the Middlesex League,” she said. And that confidence starts with the

“I’m confident our singles, we’ve got great singles,” she said.

The three singles that took the court against Wakefield were two first years and a senior who established themselves as starters. First-year Isha Appadewedula has taken hold of first singles.

“Isha has been amazing, winning all her matches so far this year,” said White. Whether Appadewedula stays at one or moves to two depending on how she does in the Challenge Matches, “she’s a great addition no matter what,” said White.

Senior Giselle Fond did not play her usual second singles place after rolling her ankle in a early season practice. She finally returned to the court in first doubles with the only returning varsity doubles player, senior Avery Cal. “This might be a nice way for Fond to ease in playing a little doubles. Don’t have to run around so much in doubles,” said White.

Malina Lorentan is Belmont’s second first year to crack into the varsity squad.

“I gave her a chance [on singles] and she’s jumped all over it,” White said of the native of Switzerland, After losing a tight one against the SpyPonders, Lorentan impressived White with her ability to step up against Wakefield.

While having established a solid three in singles, White said she’s “still struggling a little bit to find the right combination” to send out for doubles. “We were spoiled in the past few seasons. We had really good doubles players. Last year we just got so many points from them,” said White.

“We lost three out of the four players of our starting doubles so that’s where we’re trying to recalibrate a little bit,” said White.

Senior Cal, who had the same partner for the previous two seasons, has been in the process of feeling out a new partner “so that’s been like the experiment.” Against Wakefield, White teamed her up with fellow senior Fond while Grace Harrington and Eve Whitmer were in at second doubles.

While it will be challenging to repeat as a top 16 team in the power rankings, White said “we’re excited just to get a few good practices in and a few games here and there to get a solid squad out there in each match.”

Belmont High Southpaw Pair No-Hits Everett In ‘Home’ Opener, First No-No In 26 Seasons

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Photo: A happy Belmont High baseball team celebrates with pitchers Craig Deane and Kyle Ksander who combined for the Marauders first no-hitter since 2000.

As far back as November, Belmont High School’s long time baseball manager Jim Brown was talking highly – in his iconic dead pan manner – of the pitching staff he would be sending out to the mound in the spring.

“They’ve been prepping really well in the off-season. Yeah, four who I think are going to impress,” said “Brownie.”

It only took the first game of the campaign to prove Brown’s forecast right as a pair of those arms went out and put up a marker for the rest of the season as senior southpaws Craig Deane and Kyle Ksander combined to no hit Everett, 6-0, in the season opener on Friday, April 3.

Pitching under the lights, Ksander – a 6 foot, 175 lb. returning varsity lefty whose fast ball tops out at 85 mph – struck out eight in four innings while the multi-positional Deane K’d seven in his three innings of action to share Belmont’s first no-hitter in 26 years.

The season’s “home” opener was played at Watertown High School’s turf field due to the soggy conditions at Brendan Grant Field.

The no-hit shutout is a promising start for Belmont coming off a 9-11 ’25 campaign where it got pushed around against “mehe” opposition to miss the MIAA tourney.

After being on the road against Melrose (Monday) and Reading (Wednesday), Belmont will be at the Grant on Friday, April 10 vs Watertown. First pitch is at 4:15 p.m.

Belmont High Girls’ LAX Wins Opener Over Wayland, 13-11, As Mun Rises From The Pitch With 5 Goals

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Photo: Belmont High School senior co-captain Sydney Mun scoring the Marauders’ first goal of the season in the season opener vs. Weston.

It was a Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em girls’ lacrosse season opener for co-captain Belmont High’s Sydney Mun as the senior midfielder found herself sprawled on the turf at least a half dozen times.

But like the best fighters, the senior forward picked herself off the canvas to score, collecting five goals, including the game winner, leading Belmont High Girls’ Lacrosse to a 13-11 victory over a stubborn Weston squad at Harris Field on Tuesday, March 31.

The first time Mun hit the deck came with seconds remaining in the opening quarter – with her stick flying skyward as she landed with a thud – resulting in the team’s first tally of the year off the subsequent penalty zone free position.

Belmont’s head coach, Dan O’Brien is not surprised at the times Mun was spun, knocked, and went down during the game. “It happens a lot,” he said. “She plays so aggressively, and she goes hard. She makes good things happen. And we’re gonna need that all year from her, so it’s good.”

While the evening’s focus was on Mun scoring, it was a moment of situational awareness – call it lacrosse IQ – that O’Brien said was Mun’s most important involvement of the game, coming within three minutes from the final whistle after Weston cut the lead to two.

A Belmont sideline pass got loose and headed out of bounds, which would turn over the ball to the Wildcats, giving the visitors an opportunity to cut the lead to a single score. But tracking back to the ball, Mun put herself in position to snag the ball in her stick and gain possession.

[Mun] made a really great, smart, aggressive play, winning that ground ball, then going backwards with it and killing the clock. That’s the type of heady stuff that I’m talking about,” said O’Brien.

For Mun, just the start of the season was a long time coming for the multi-sport student athlete. 

“I think it’s super exciting to be back on the field, and it was really a team effort. Ball movement was a big contributor to finding open players, and it was just really fun,” said Mun. She said her and the team’s quickness was the advantage that provided the win for the Marauders’.

“During practice, we are always doing conditioning, getting the first step, and starting to accelerate in our speed. I think that was very evident in our game,” said Mun.

Tuesday was game one in one of the more difficult schedules a high school girls’ lacrosse team will play this season. The week of the public schools spring break (April 22) will see the Marauders enter a four-game gauntlet against powerful opponents Billerica, Andover, Top 20 North Andover, and defending Division 2 state champions Notre Dame, Hingham.

And Belmont will be facing these powerhouse programs with a newly formed backline. Led by returning starter senior Fiona Rodrigues-Clark, the three newcomers to defense – sophomore Gabriella Carney and juniors Nina Sheth-Voss and Lily Cook – have, while being a work in progress, grown as a cohesive unit.

“That was a brand new defensive unit we have out there,” said O’Brien. “We’ve got to continue to develop their communication and learn how to play as a unit. Lily [Cook] stepped up [against Weston] and played great individual one-on-one defense, and Gabriella [Carney] made a couple of great plays to force turnovers at the end.”

Belmont’s newly constructed defense showed enough promise supporting senior goalie Brooke Whalen, who came up with 11 saves that allowed the Marauders to stay in front for the entire game. “[Whalen] had the big saves when we needed them. It’s always about stealing one or two goals that made the difference tonight,” said O’Brien.

“She’s our Brooke Wall,” said a teammate after the game.

Along with Mun, O’Brien was encouraged that the Marauders’ attack didn’t rely on a single player. And that single player is usually senior midfield All-Star Niamh Lesnik who had a couple of goals, including a solo run taking the draw and storming down the middle of the field to deposit her first of the season. Senior attack Nora Goulding provided three assists, junior mid Ruth Siegert had two goals, and Maddie Tisdale contributed a goal and an assist.

“So I’m happy with the way we’ve taken coaching,” said O’Brien. “Now we have to see continued improvement.”

Belmont Boys’, Girls’ Hoops Run Into Hot Hands As Marauders Dropped From Tourney

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Photo: Belmont senior co-captain Andre Chavushian drives by the Chelmsford team in Belmont’s

Belmont Hoops found it a rocky road in the first round of the MIAA Division 1 Boys’ and Girls’ state tourney as the Marauders failed to take down their hosts.

Boys’ Hoops: Andover 65, Belmont 52

After an inspired win in the play-in game vs Chelmsford – a wire-to-wire 51-40 victory – Belmont (13-9) was looking to continue its outstanding end-of-season play as they traveled to Andover for a first-round Division 1 match-up against the second-ranked Golden Warriors (19-2).

The Marauders knew they would be facing a stout Andover defense. What they did not account for was the offensive explosion coming from Andover’s junior guard Josh Roux. The recently named co-MVP of the Merrimack Valley Conference came to play, scoring off fast breaks, from offensive rebounds and three pointers. When the half ended, Roux had buried 21 of Andover’s 41 points.

Belmont did keep the contest close, trailing by 11 at the half. But the Marauders allowed sophomore Charlie Tutwiler to total 11 points while unable to score a bucket until midway through the quarter. While Roux was “held” to seven points in the second half, the damage was done.

Belmont High’s junior center Braiden Dargon (left) challenges Chelmsford’s senior Kevin Burns while Peter McLaughlin looks on.

In the end, while Belmont played over its head in a 2nd vs 31st ranking match up, the quality did rise to the top to Andover’s advantage. The competitiveness Belmont put on the court in their final five games provided a glimpse into what should be coming next season, demonstrated in Belmont’s 51-40 play-in win against Chelmsford on Tuesday, Feb. 24. A strong man-to-man defense, and timely shooting from senior captain Charlie Tingos (13 points) and senior captain Andre Chavushian (10 points) – who scored the first six of Belmont’s points using the Euro step to perfection – while junior big man Braiden Dragon (9 points) was a imposing presence under the basket.

“I can’t tell you what’s its like to come in here every day and be able to go to work with kids that enjoy what they’re doing. They’re very close. They all get along. They’re very unselfish. They’re the boys who looked after each other. I see that continuing next season,” said first year Head Coach Dan Burns.

Belmont are saying farewell to seniors Chavushian, Tingos, Elijah Pierre, Weston Zalewski and Elijah Akins.

Girls Hoops: Needham 54, Belmont 36

The first round match between the 24th-ranked Belmont vs 9th-seed Needham could not have started any better for Belmont with senior captain Sophia McClendon and sophomore Sarah Geller hitting their first shots and with junior Stella Ivkovic coming up with semi-hook to see the Marauders go up 6-3 half way through a sloppy first quarter. And when junior Rebecca Christensen put in an offensive rebound (Christensen would end with double digit rebounds) and McClendon hit a spinning drive in the lane, Belmont would enter the second quarter up by 4 points, 10-6.

Belmont High’s Rebecca Christensen grabbing an offensive rebound against Georgetown

And when senior co-captain Leah Attridge made one-of-two, Belmont had its biggest lead of the night, 11-6. But the Rockets would launch off, outscoring the Marauders, 18-2, with Geller’s runner the sole points for Belmont. Needham’s center Eva Andrews began dominating on both ends of the court, taking McClendon out of her game, and scoring half of her 22 game high points. Belmont did not help its cause going 3 for 15 from the free throw line.

It was fitting that Erin Attridge, one of three co-captains, had the opportunity to score, making one of two with four seconds remaining. Geller and Christensen would end up co-high scorers with 11 each.

Belmont seniors McClendon – who reached the 1,000 point milestone this season – and the Attridge twins played their final game for the Marauders.