Red And Black And Blues: Winchester Makes For Awful Week For Belmont Sports As Playoffs Get Underway

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Photo: Winchester’s junior goalie Amelia Burke secure the ball as Belmont’s Danica Zinka was taken to the turf in the Marauders tie with the Red and Black.

In the last week of regular season, several Belmont High teams had “Winchester High School” on the schedule with a lot to play for: a pair of Middlesex League championships on the line and having a chance to making the playoffs.

And at the end of the week, things didn’t come out well for any of the Marauder squads as the Red and Blacks made for an awful week for Belmont. Still, three Marauder squads found their way into the playoffs, with two looking at long stays in their touraments.

Scoreless Tie With Belmont Gives Winchester Girls’ Soccer Middlesex League Title

When the final whistle was heard at Harris Field on Monday, Oct. 27, the Winchester Girls’ Soccer team rushed to swamp their goalie and celebrate its 0-0 “victory” over Belmont.

Both teams came into the final game of the regular season with identical overall records, 14-2-1, and side-by-side in the MIAA Division 1 power ranking with Belmont 8th and Winchester 9th. The winner of the game would bring home (figuratively) the Middlesex Liberty title as Winchester was playing to retain the crown while Belmont was seeking its first title in the past decade.

But Winchester was holding a golden ticket: a better league record. The Black and Red had lost one Middlesex game, to Belmont, 3-1, compared to Belmont’s two losses. If the contest ended in a tie, the crown was going back to Winchester for the fourth consecutive season.

From the start, both teams were giving no quarter and didn’t expect none, as crushing shoulder checks, pushing in the back and hard sliding tackles sent student athletes from both sides to the turf. The teams tactics were clear from the start: Belmont was looking for the long pass to stretch the Red and Black defense and find a runner with senior forward Danica Zicha – the league’s leading scorer and Boston Globe All-Scholastic candidate – the likely target. Winchester was play making through the center of the field while playing a high line with the plan to keep Belmont’s forwards thinking about the offside trap. It also kept a bevy of defenders on Zicha’s hip, for good measure.

Marauder sophomore midfielder Madhavi Ramadas

Belmont came close in the first four minutes as Zicha turned the corner of the defense with a clear path to the net. But her shot was stuffed by Red and Black junior goalie Amelia Burke who left a short rebound at Belmont’s scoring leader’s feet as Burke was facing away from the ball. But before she could get a stab at the ball, Zicha was subsequently shoved into the turf by a forearm to the back. While a likely foul anywhere else on the pitch, no ref was going to call a potential penalty shot so early in the game.

Each team had stellar chances with Belmont sophomore mid-fielder Catherine Greiner just missing a one-timer from first year Catherine Tierney. The save of the game came from Belmont’s Martha Dimas with a full stretch, two handed punch save late in the first half. The junior keeper came back from a knee injury to claim nine clean sheets this season.

Continuing her season long all-star-worthy performance, Marauder sophomore midfielder Madhavi Ramadas moved from quarterbacking the offense with deft weighted passes to being the first line of the defense, influencing the run of play.

While Belmont did have the better chances in the second half – including a floater that barely sailed over the crossbar and a pair of shots that skipped by the post – Winchester’s defense was solid enough to keep Belmont, which led the league with 59 goals, off the ball until time ran its course.

The tie has had ramifications in the upcoming tournament with Winchester leap frogging over Belmont to 7th while Belmont has stayed in the eight slot, which gives them two playoff home games. Belmont will know its dance card in the D1 playoffs by Saturday, Nov. 1.

Belmont’s Great Start Didn’t Deter Host Winchester As Marauders Can Keep Its Crown

Through 14 games in the 2024 season, Belmont High Field Hockey was a scoring machine, netting a total of 73 goals. Then over the final four matches of the season, the Marauders prowess putting the ball in the net went bitterly cold as Belmont scoring average fell to just one per game and resulted in a .500 record. That drop in form resulted in the once unstoppable Belmont squad tumbling from 3rd in the MIAA power rankings to 6th.

And in the middle of it all, Belmont took the short trip to Winchester on Friday, Oct. , to battle the Red and Black for the Middlesex Liberty championship. And the teams could not be any closer with Belmont coming in with a 14-2-0 record to Winchester 14–3-0 records with Belmont as the five seed and the Red and Black sitting sixth.

Belmont started the match on the right foot as Belmont’s Kendall Regan slotted in a centering pass by Winchester’s goalie three minutes into the game. And Belmont would continue to pressure the Red and Black in its end.

But Winchester would come out of its shell and use long balls down the sidelines to bring the fight to Belmont. Subsequently, the Red and Black would pile up a growing number of penalty corners through the first half. And giving a strong opponent the advantage of placing numbers in front of the goal, the inevitable occurred as scored on a loose ball inches from Belmont’s goal with remaining in the half.

Kendall Regan (18) scoring vs. Winchester

The match in the second half would resemble a tennis match as the teams would bounce from one end of the pitch to the other. What would decide the game had a little of everything – a Belmont penalty hit, a brilliant solo run and an ignored infraction. The Marauders had a solid try on a penalty corner which was deflected towards the sideline. A Winchester defender played it up the right line to who proceeded to zigzag past Marauders before sending a running shot by sophomore goalie Zoe Bruce.

But during her slalom run, a whistle was heard calling an infraction against a Belmont player. While the Belmont players turned to where the penalty was called, continued her scoring run. Belmont players and Head Coach Jess Smith questioned the non-call to no avail.

With the home squad up by a single score, Belmont’s own attack turned tepid as frequent foyers into Winchester’s end would flounder without a shot on goal. Over the final 20 minutes, Belmont registered zero chances on the Red and Black goal. Belmont would have a final penalty corner after time ran out but the ball was safely turned aside.

Along with a 3-1 loss to a very strong Dover-Sherborn team (3rd in Division 3), Belmont’s razor thin 1-0 results against Lexington and Arlington resulted in its power ranking to fall to 6th in the final MIAA posting.

Belmont will host two playoff games starting with 23-ranked Newton North High School (4-10-3) on Friday, Halloween at an early start of 3:45 p.m. at Harris Field. If all favorites win in the first round – which is unlikely to occur – Belmont will match up with 11th-ranked Natick High (12-5-1) in the Sweet 16 with a possible battle against one-loss and three-seed Wellesley in the Elite Eight.

Volleyball On The Long Road To The Playoffs

After being roughed up by the 18-1 Red and Black in the final game of the season, Belmont Girls Volleyball finished the season at 9-8 in a very competitive league and secured a playoff spot as the 24th seed in Div. 1. The team will take the nearly 100-mile round trip to meet 9th-ranked Attleboro (17-2) on Thursday, Oct. 30 at 5 p.m.

The team recently had its signature win of the year defeating 7th ranked in Div. 2 Wayland, 3-1, in a revenge game for the squad. After losing to the Warriors, 3-0, earlier in the season, the Marauders used a combination of a strong back line and at the net defense with outstanding serving to come back from a one set deficit to sweep by one of the favorites on reaching the state semi-finals.

Boys’ Soccer

Winchester did no favors for Belmont as the Red and Black defeated the Marauders, 3-0, on Monday and sending the Marauders record into the red at 6-7-4. With the loss and sitting at 43rd in the power rankings, outside the 32 automatic playoff slots, Belmont needed a win against host Newton North on Wednesday. But the prospects of a tourament run ended when neither team found the back of the net.

Backup Goalie, And Team’s ‘Engine’ Leads Belmont High Girls’ Soccer By Andover, 2-1, For 12th Win

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Photo: Belmont High Girls Soccer first-year goalie Ruth Christensen came off the bench to secure a 2-1 victory over Andover

On Saturday afternoon, Oct. 18, Belmont High Girls Soccer first-year goalie Ruth Christensen got one of those opportunities young players wish for – a chance. After Belmont’s starting senior ‘tender received a knock 10 minutes into the game against non-league Andover, Head Coach Jemmy Cange didn’t hesitate putting Christensen into the game to preserve the team’s early 1-0 lead, thanks to Belmont’s scoring sensation and Middlesex League MVP-candidate senior co-captain Danica Zicha.

“It’s like I said at the beginning of the season, we’re going to have a smaller team than most so everyone is waiting to step in when they get the call,” said Cange.

And on the first play after the restart, Christensen was digging the ball from the back of the net, as Andover’s outstanding forward Ava DeLuca scored off a corner to tie the game 1-1. But Christensen was already thinking about the next opportunity to show Cange she was prepared for the challenge awaiting her.

“It was my first play, but I knew I had to be ready for the next one and the ones after that,” said Christensen.

Minutes after giving up the equalizer, Christensen’s fellow 9th grader, midfielder Mackenzie Teirney, directed a centering pass into the net for what would be the game-winning goal in Belmont’s 2-1 home win against the Golden Warriors (4-4-5).

After the goal, Christensen settled into her role, making a pair of goal-saving full stretch saves, while directing the defense as Belmont (12-2-1) played down a player after a Marauder was issued a rarely shown red card in the later stages of the game.

“I just take small things, like, my first save after the goal. I missed that first one but then you have to think, ‘Yeah, but I made that save on the next one.’ I just focused on the little positive things, and that helps you build your confidence,” said Christensen.

“When we have a little injury there and injury there, everybody step up, and that’s a good thing to see. [Christensen’s] a freshman and she came in in a big game and make a lot of great saves at the end and gave us the victory,” said Cange.

A game against a tough opponent from a different league is typical in the upcoming post season tournament, said Cange.

They’re a physical team. I told the [the players], these are the teams that is going to be in the playoff, that’s going to be ready to play. They’re going to fight,” he said.

A key for post-season success will come from the center of the field and a big part of that will be veteran senior center midfielder Madison Dubois.

“She’s the engine of the team. We rely on her to take possession of the ball. She knows her job on the team and how to get our team going. [Dubois] has been doing this all year. I’m so proud of her,” said Cange.

The Marauders chalked up its 12th win of the season finding themselves 7th in the MIAA Division 1 Power Rankings and 16th in the latest Boston Globe Top 20 poll.

On a seven game unbeaten streak (6-0-1), Belmont enters the final week of the regular season about to face a “Murderers’ Row” of Middlesex League opponents: Monday, Oct. 20 at home against Arlington (8-2-4) which defeated the Marauders, 4-1, in what Cange called “our most disappointing game.” Wednesday, Oct. 22 the team travels to League leaders Lexington (11-3-1) before finishing Monday, Oct. 27, at home against traditional rivals Winchester (11-2-1) which they beat 3-1 earlier in the season.

“Arlington beat us the first time, and now they come into our home. It’s gonna be a good, physical game. It’s always good to play against good competition in Arlington, but we’ll be ready on Monday,” he said.

Belmont High Field Hockey Prepares For Tough Week By Beating One-Loss Newburyport, 5-4

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Photo: Belmont’s Gigi Mastrangelo scores her second of three goals in Belmont’s 5-4 win vs. hosts Newburyport, as Kendall Regan (18) and Nora Dolan (10) celebrate.

On the last shot of the game with visiting Belmont, Newburyport Field Hockey’s Sadie Aiello scored on a penalty corner with no time remaining on the game clock. Immediately the Clipper players erupted in an uproarious celebration with a jubilant group hug on the field akin to what occurs after a landmark last minute victory.

The Belmont players gathered around sophomore goalie Zoe Bruce bewildered by Newburyport’s reaction. Some Marauders even looked up at the scoreboard to make sure they hadn’t lost track of the score. The final was indeed 5-4, with the “five” for the visitors.

“Hey! You won,” said Belmont’s head coach Jess Smith to her subdued players. And as they left the field, Belmont was taking home this season’s 11th victory, handing Newburyport (10-2-1) its second loss as the Marauders scored the most visiting goals against the Clippers since before the pandemic.

But for the Clippers, a leading Division 2 squad ranked 18th in the Boston Globe Top 20, playing up to the Marauders was a victory in itself. “We lost, but it felt like such a win for us in so many ways,” said Newburyport coach Shannon Haley, in a local media outlet.

For the Marauders, the trip back to Belmont from Cape Ann came with a hard decision between teammates: a stop for Shake Shack or Chic-fil-A. (Shake Shake came out on top.)

“This was a great test for us because in the tournament you’ll end up traveling to an away game playing against teams you’ve probably never met,” said Smith. “They played out of their minds, falling behind three times away from home but coming back each time right way. It shows we are more than just a second half team.”

After Friday’s game, Belmont Field Hockey’s record is 11-1-0, a program’s best after 12 contests, as the Marauders reached 5th in the Boston Globe Top 20 poll and the Div. 1 MIAA Power Rankings, both all-time highs for the team.

After a two hour venture during Friday’s rush hour, Belmont arrived late and had little time to prepare for a well attended game as it was to support breast cancer awareness. And the Marauders would fall behind in the first three minutes as Olivia Wilson scored the first goal of her hat trick off the initial penalty corner of the game. Belmont would soon take over the momentum with percision passing down the right sideline and would tie the game from junior Gigi Mastrangelo scoring at six minutes from in close for the first of her own hat trick.

It appeared Belmont took the lead from senior all-star midfield MacKenzie Clarke from her trademark reverse backhand shot but the goal was denied as a referee ruled it was hit from the wrong side of the stick, the first of several hitting violations against Clarke. The Clippers retook the lead early in the second quarter off a penalty corner when Wilson tipped a shot by Bruce. But Newburyport’s advantage would only last 25 seconds as Kendell Regan slotted a shot just outside the right post. One again, Wilson scored from the penalty corner with 4:06 in the second only to be countered three minutes later by Mastrangelo.

Belmont solitified its reputation as a second half team as the Marauders dominated the third quarter by controling the midfield. Despite having Clarke sent off for two minutes after a serious infraction, Belmont didn’t allow the Clippers from crossing the midfield, ending with Mastrangelo scoring her third coming from a penalty corner. Newburyport pushed up the field in an attempt to find the equalizer only to be exposed by a Belmont breakout which ended with Clarke feeding forward Nora Dolan who slotted in the game winner midway into the fourth quarter.

“It was a great game. Our defense [seniors Niamh Lesnik and Caroline French, junior all-star Elsie Lakin-Schultz, and first-year centerback Kate Townsend] was so solid, not giving up a goal from the run of play. [Bruce] came up big in the fourth quarter, knocking balls out of the air and being strong with her pads.”

The accolades the Marauders have earned will be challenged in the penultimate week in the regular season as the Marauders face a pair of strong opponants. The first a return fixture away at Reading Memorial (8-3-2) on Tuesday, Oct. 14. Belmont took the first match, 2-1, on Harris Field. The Marauders will take another long bus ride to meet 17th-ranked Dover-Sherborn (12-1-0), rated third in MIAA Div. 3, on Friday, Oct. 17.

Belmont High Field Hockey Takes Top Ten Duel Vs Winchester, 3-1

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Photo: Kendall Regan (18) redirects a centering pass from Gigi Mastrangelo (8) for the game-winning goal as Belmont defeats Winchester, 3-1, in a top-ten match on Sept. 29 at Harris Field.

In its second meeting with a high-ranked opponent this month, Belmont High School Field Hockey came off Harris Field Monday, Sept. 29, with a scrappy 3-1 victory over one-loss Winchester to solidify its number 4 post in the Boston Globe poll.

Junior forward Gigi Mastrangelo – who earned one of the “Players of the Week” honors by the Boston Globe – scored the brace between sophomore Kendell Regan’s game-winning strike, her second in consecutive games. Sophomore goalie Zoe Bruce made a half-dozen important saves while the defensive wall of senior Niamh Lensky, junior Elsie Lakin-Schultz, and first-year Katie Townsend hampered Winchester’s quick forwards from taking clear shots at Bruce.

Belmont (7-1-0) is currently ranked 6th in the MIAA Division 1 power rankings.

With opponents focusing their attention on stopping senior midfield star MacKenzie Clarke [who set the Belmont career scoring record early this season], Smith has been relying on everyone on the field to contribute.

“[Goals] are coming off different sticks. Gigi had two, and Kendell got the other one, but [Lensky] got an assist and Mackenzie was involved in all three. In the scoring book, it’s not straight across just one person with all the points. Mackenzie didn’t need to score three goals for us to win, and that’s what we need. We needed other people to show up, and they did.”

Belmont had to play from behind for only the second time this year – the other being against Watertown – when Winchester’s senior forward Sloane McCarthy scored off a bouncing pass from sophomore Eliana Drake in the game’s first two and a half minutes. But that was a short-lived advantage for the Red and Black as five minutes later, Mastrangelo won a goal-line scramble that four teammates – the last being Lensky – passed around the scoring circle off a penalty corner to knot the game at one.

“I’d rather the first goal come two minutes into the game than the third quarter,” said Smith. “I knew we had a ton of time. I believe in the team. I know some of the older players can step up and make it happen.”

As one would expect from teams close in talent, the game was a contest to hold an advantage in the midfield to launch attacks. Belmont’s tactic to dull Winchester’s speed upfront was to challenge closely every time they held the ball, and do as much to disrupt passes or dribbling.

Belmont would take the lead with four minutes left in the third quarter off a penalty corner as Clarke returned the ball to the inserter Mastrangelo, who sent the ball through the goalie box to Regan’s waiting stick.

Belmont’s insurance goal came as the third quarter was winding down. Lakin-Schultz started play at midfield and found Clarke, who weaved past two Red and Black defenders and launched one of her patented reverse rockets from 15 meters out. This time, it was Mastrangelo at the far left post where, using her softball skills to great effect, deflected the rising shot into the top netting with 18 seconds remaining.

For the final 15 minutes, Belmont relied on the back three with senior Caroline French inserted as a sweeper to hold the fort. Belmont’s midfield of Mia Smith, seniors Nina Sheth-Voss and Avery Ranold, and Brooke Mahoney, were blocking passing lanes and helped clear out errant balls. Smith pointed out “the amazing job” Townsend did as she was assigned to shadow Drake. “I’m not sure that 14 got one strong shot on the net tonight.”

Bruce was “totally phenomenal,” said Smith, making several critical saves, including challenging Winchester’s Drake one-on-one as the midfielder attempted to get by the sophomore.

“You know, the three defenders are outstanding athletes. They’re multi-sport athletes who are strong and know where to be on the field. They understand space. They’re fighters. They’re just athletes through and through, and they make it happen,” said Smith.

Belmont begins an unprecedented number of road games, playing eight of their remaining 10 regular season matches away from Harris Field, including against Reading (which they defeated 2-1), Lexington (4-2), Winchester, and at non-league powerhouses Dover-Sherborne and Newburyport. They will be home on Thursday, Oct. 9, against Wilmington, and the final game of the season on Saturday, Oct. 25, for a Seniors Night contest vs Arlington.

A Fluke Goal The Difference In Belmont Field Hockey’s Epic Struggle Vs Watertown

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Photo: Action in the Belmont/Watertown game

In an early season contest between two of the top-ten high school field hockey teams in Massachusetts, a fluke goal would prove to be the difference as Belmont (2-1-0) fell to perannual state champion Watertown (3-0-0), 2-1, in most competitive match between the neighbors since the 2011 North 2 Division championship which the Raiders won 2-1. The win extended Watertown’s winning streak to 100 games, the second time Watertown under the four decade helm of Head Coach Elieen Donahue has reached consecutive triple digit victories.

“I think things didn’t always fall the right way for us today, but we didn’t stop playing our game,” said Belmont’s Head Coach Jess Smith, after the game held at Victory Field. “We didn’t stop trying the whole time as we had some outstanding performances on the field. And I thought we had more opportunities than Watertown. We just didn’t make it happen.”

And the margin between the teams was the width of a standard Post-it note. Field hockey is one of quirky sports which limits where a team can score. A ball struck from beyond the Circle – a 16-yard D shaped area in front of the net – is not counted. The best tactic a defending team should do with a long-distance attempt is steer well clear of the ball as it goes out-of-bounds or ends up in the back of the net.

And Belmont coaches shouted to sophomore goalie Zoe Bruce to move away from the ball as the clearing shot by Watertown came from well beyond the scoring circle. But the ball did not go out or in the net; rather, it barely clipped the 2-inch wide left goal post and rebounded onto the field of play where Watertown’s Aisling Brennock ran onto the easiest of easy goals late in the first quarter.

“[Bruce] did everything right. She was not her fault. We all thought it was going out,” said Smith. “I have never seen that in 20 years of coaching.”

Watertown doubled its lead in the second quarter in a more conventional manner off a penalty corner as Kaylee Master snuck the ball just inside the left post. Watertown held the upper hand in the first half as the Raiders held Belmont’s all-time points record holder senior co-captain Mackenzie Clarke – who is Donahue’s neice – in check by dedicating players primarily Taylor Foley to stick close to Belmont’s scoring threat.

But Belmont would flip the script of Watertown’s first half dominace from its own penalty corner. Junior co-captain defender Elsie Lakin-Schultz took a strong pass from senior midfield/inserter Gigi Masterangelo and beat Watertown’s first-year goalie Natalia Keuchikarian by her outstreched right pad.

“I really think it’s the same mindset playing defense and scoring,” said Lakin-Schultz of her first goal of the season. “I feel like a lot of people think scoring is the most important part of the game, but locking down on [an opponant] and stopping them on defense and scoring is the same thing.”

The third quarter saw Belmont withstand an early push from Watertown to take over the game’s momentum as the Raiders hunckered down into a defensive stance with three defenders in front of a sweeper to limit passes and runs at Keuchikarian. Despite dominating the sidelines, Belmont shots were mostly from distance with two attempts by Clarke soared over the net and was knocked by Watertown’s net minder.

Watertown worked hard in the final quarter to bottle Belmont in the center of the pitch while launching long balls forcing Belmont to drive the length of the field. It appeared Belmont had scored in the final four minutes when a ball from outside the scoring circle was tipped into the net by senior Caroline French but the officials didn’t see it that way. As time ran out, Belmont earned a coveted penalty corner, packing the scoring circle with 10 players. But Clarke’s shot when high and the Raiders survived the annual encounter.

While a loss is a loss, Smith admired how her team performed against the best team in Massachusetts.

“We played hard. We were in it the whole time,” said Smith. “And I really felt like it could have gone either way. And it makes me more excited for the next games coming up.”

Belmont High Volleyball Takes Powerhouse Melrose To Five Sets In Season Opener

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Photo: Belmont High’s Kat Hsu (No. 11) and Sadie Boas (No. 8) at the net vs Melrose

For the past decade, Belmont High School Volleyball has been paired in the season opener against perennial Middlesex League powerhouse Melrose. In the early years of this competition, it was a humbling experience for the Marauders as the Red Hawks would walk through the opposition.

But over the past three years, the competition between the teams has become competitive with Belmont falling 3-2 last season, after defeating the Red Hawks, 3-1, in 2023.

The season opener at Belmont’s Wenner Field House on Wednesday, Sept. 3, had all the feel of a changing of the guard in the opening sets as Belmont’s lineup of first time starters out hustled the visitors to take a two set lead (25-20, 25-20). Belmont’s new head coach Raylynn Kauila had the players performing at a tournament level against a talent-laden opponent.

Belmont High’s new head coach Raylynn Kauila

“The players did play very well defensively,” said Kauila, who coached at Springfield Central previously. “They kept that ball up. They kept it in. They were talking and moving really well and were doing really well with our serving too. We didn’t have too many missed serves.”

But Melrose was holding a very big weapon in its arsenal: senior Sabine Wenzel. At 6’6″ and 175 pounds, the Division 1 commit to East Texas A&M, is THE presence on the court both at the net blocking and especially on the attack. “Melrose were so good at finding [Wenzel on the] right, and they adjusted really well later in the match,” said Kauila.

In the third and fourth sets, Wenzel was the Red Hawks offensive stalwart, winning multiple points on set shots with deadly accuracy. While the Marauders kept both sets close, they could not narrow the margin to within a point, dropping Belmont 25-21 and 25-19.

Melrose High Volleyball senior Sabine Wenzel in action vs. Belmont High

The match came down to Melrose’s better finesse and fitness as Belmont’s earlier performance slipped as the match wore on.

“We got tired, and it definitely showed,” said Kauila. “We were not being able to finish and made some hitting errors. Once we got down in that third set, it was really hard to come back.. We closed it just a little bit. But just not get over the hump,” she said as Belmont fell, 15-11, in the deciding set.

[Belmont would take two of the next three matches – defeating Reading and Watertown while losing to Wayland – to end the first week at 2-2.]

But there was a lot to take from the match: a player that impressed Kauila was junior middle blocker LeeLee Kozelian, who was matched up against Wenzel. “It’s very intimidating to play against someone with that big of a height difference. And she surprised me by really committing to playing there and not being scared. She had some good fight in her and it’s important at that position.” Three times in the match, the junior stuffed Wenzel’s attempted spikes to win the point.

Belmont senior Libero Zulal Merdinian

In the back court, senior Libero Zulal Merdinian was ‘talking, reading the game, adjusting to the defense, and just doing a phenomenal job,” said Kauila.

Despite the loss, Kauila did find encouragement for the rest of the season.

“It’s a nice baseline for game one. So I can’t wait to see their growth over the next couple of games,” she said.

Freshman, Senior Leads Belmont Girls Soccer To 2-0 Win In Season Opener

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Photo: Belmont High Girls Soccer senior Danica Zicha (number 10) scored in the season opener vs. Melrose

Belmont High Girls Soccer freshman Mackenzie Tierney has one special thing in common with her teammate, senior Danica Zicha: each scored a goal in their first high school game. The pair of forwards scored with Tierney picking up the assist on Zicha’s goal as the Marauders put in a solid performance against a physical Melrose squad to win 2-0 in the 2025 season opener held at Harris Field.

Couple the victory with an away win on Saturday, Sept. 6 against Westford Academy (the only team to beat the Marauders during last year’s regular season), 2-0, and fourth-year Head Coach Jemmy Cange continues his winning ways coming off last year’s 10-1-7 record.

“This year … we have a lot of new starters,” said Cange after seeing the team graduate double digits of players from last season. “We have a lot of great players here, a lot of great freshmen … and returning players. We should be good this season.

Zicha’s strike came midway in the first half at the end of a classic counter attack. Running strong down the middle of the field, sophomore Catherine Greiner kept possession after a challenge and found Tierney streaking down the right sideline. The first-year passed to Zicha who teed up the ball onto her right foot and directed the ball into the left side of the Melrose net.

The senior’s game-winning strike has been a long-time coming as it came nearly two years after a serious knee injury in Zicha’s sophomore season took her effectively off the pitch for nearly two years.

“It feels great because I’ve been gone for a while,” said Zicha. “[The team] has been working really hard in practice … working on connecting passes and so [scoring again] was great.”

Tierney tallied on the final kick of the game, pouncing on a rebound to secure the victory. While scoring in her Inaugural high school game, the goal was not her first wearing the crimson and white as she scored on a memorable solo breakaway against 13-win Arlington for the high school’s ice hockey team.

Also returning to the team is junior goalie Martha Dimas who suffered her own knee injury in the penultimate game of the season during which she secured 13 clean sheets.

Belmont’s speedy defenders never allowed Melrose the opportunity for a clean shot against Dimas. Junior midfielder Madhavi Ramadas turned in a standout performance with solid defending while connecting with several spot-on passes in transition.

“I’m proud with how everyone played. Danica is back and Martha was solid. Great game,” said Cange.

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

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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.

After Dominate Opener, Belmont High Girls Lacrosse Swept Aside By L-S In Sweet 16

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Photo: Belmont High vs Lincoln-Sudbury Regional in the Sweet 16

The 14-seed Belmont High Girls Lacrosse team faced a challenging task on Tuesday, June 3: a Sweet 16 away match against the 3rd-ranked Lincoln-Sudbury Regional in the MIAA Division 1 state championship.

Belmont (14-7) had seen its fair share of top-level opposition this season, facing five top 10 playoff seeds during the regular season, losing to the top three by two goals or less, and a big late-season victory over Central Catholic. However, L-S (12-5) was a different competitor, with a physical defense and experience in attack.

And those cumulative advantages L-S possessed resulted in the Marauders’ 12-4 defeat in the quarter-final matchup.

Belmont High junior defender Fiona Rodriquez-Clark barking out the defense against L-S Regional

“Lincoln-Sudbury’s a great team from a great program,” said Belmont’s Head Coach Dan O’Brien. “They won the state championship two years ago and are at the next level that we’re aspiring to get to in terms of execution.”

If there was a hopeful playoff vibe for the Marauders, it was the first round 12-6 victory over 19th-ranked Braintree in the opening round at Harris Field on Friday, May 30. O’Brien had one word for the team to remember as they headed onto the pitch: “Dominate.” It took half of the first quarter to get rolling – Braintree tied the game at 2-2 at the 6:38 mark – as Belmont would go on a 6-0 run over the next 12 minutes with senior attack Charlotte Mayall (2 goals and an assist) planting the ball to give the Marauders the lead for keeps at 5:14.

Junior all-star mid Niamh Lesnik scored four goals to her team-high season total. At the same time, sophomore draw specialist midfielder Natalie Merrow controlled the center circle and showed her scoring prowess with Belmont’s eighth goal to give the Maruaders an 8-3 halftime lead.

Belmont High’s Neive Lesnik vs. L-S Regional High

Belmont Goalie Brooke Whalen registered 10 saves to backstop Belmont’s strong senior-rich defense, which includes co-captains Keira Healy and Anna Santos, Tyler Mayall and Bailey Cumbo, junior Fiona Rodriquez-Clark, and sophomore Lily Cook.

On Tuesday, at L-S’s turf field – situated beyond a vast meadow from the parking lot – the key word was less “dominate,” but rather “control” the Warriors. And for the first half, Belmont put the clamps on L-S offense. After a less-than-confident start as L-S senior attack Lexi Morrissey scored twice in the first three-plus minutes, the Marauders hunkered down and stalled out the Warriors’ pressure game.

“We kept it really close [in the first half],” said Belmont’s Charlotte Mayall. “We were very prepared coming into this game. We watched film and had a plan in place how we were gonna play D and what we’re gonna do an offense. And in the first half, we really showed how prepared we were.”

While Belmont’s defense was holding its own, Belmont’s offense struggled, not coming up with draw controls as L-S had a nose for ground balls. More than once, when Belmont was in control, its cautious setup for a shot resulted in unforced errors. When a shot was taken, L-S’s outstanding goalie Lydia Mossi was lights out with big saves. Belmont’s Whalen, who surrendered a single goal in the second quarter, made a point-blank save with 25 seconds in the half to keep the deficit manageable.

Belmont High’s Noura Goulding (7) celebrates goal by Charlotte Mayall (21) against Braintree.

While the Belmont’s first half defense was successful in a “bend but don’t break” en mode, the third quarter L-S figured out the back line with six goals, two from sophomore Nina Fragale (including her second with five seconds remaining in the quarter) and a hat trick by fellow sophomore Emerson Acquaviva. While Belmont found the back of the net with its first two tallies from Lesnick and Mayall, the Marauders couldn’t generate the momentum needed to make a late-game rally.

But in the view of Mayall, the game didn’t define the team’s

“I think we played amazingly today. I really don’t think the score ever defines our games. We played so much better than the scores showed. We played one of our best games today, but it wasn’t in our favor on the scoreboard. I’m definitely sad, but I’m happy with the memories that I made,” said Mayall.

“You never stop fighting. Really proud of you all,” O’Brien told the squad after the final horn sounded.

“I feel good about [giving up] 12 [goals] against this team,” said O’Brien. “And if you told me it would be 12, I would have told you the game would be something like 12-10. Their goalie played great, and we were just a half step late on some passes, which was the difference,” he said.

And this year’s team has built a foundation for future success,” said O’Brien.

“We’re gonna bring back the whole offense. We’re graduating three of the four starters on defense, but our goalie’s back, and we’ve got young girls who are hungry to play. We’ve got some incoming girls from a really strong youth program, so we’ll keep getting better, hopefully.”

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

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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