Martha’s Vineyard girls lacrosse team wins first three games

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Angela DeBettencourt thwarts a Lady Spartan from Bishop Stang. — Photo by Ralph Stewart

The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School girls’ varsity lacrosse team stepped off on the right foot.

In their season opener, the girls defeated Falmouth, Thursday, 10-8. On Saturday, they beat Bourne, 14-9. And after falling behind Bishop Stang 5-1 in the early going, Tuesday, the Vineyard girls outscored the Spartans the rest of the way to win their first Eastern Athletic Conference (EAC) contest, 14-12, and they did it shy one player throughout the second half.

In the season opener, team captain Molly Fischer led off, scoring four goals and adding an assist. Three of Molly’s goals were in the first half, helping the Vineyarders to a 6-3 lead at the half.

Sophomore Alayna Hutchinson also scored four times and had an assist. Junior Madison Hughes scored twice, once from a free position and once sprinting 50 yards from an off-center draw.

Seniors Niki Alexander and Angela DeBettencourt keyed the team’s young defenders, Shelby Ferry, Isabel Smith, and Paige Nitardy.

Martha’s Vineyard finished the game two players short due to yellow card fouls. Goal tender April Hargy was strong in goal with nine saves.

Saturday, at Bourne, Coach Betsy Dripps gave the team three targets: score the first goal, win the game, and do it without receiving a yellow card. The Island girls hit all targets in the bull’s eye.

Senior captains Alexander and DeBettencourt set the Martha’s Vineyard zone defense. Molly Fischer scored five goals and assisted on another. Alayna Hutchinson had four goals and three assists. Madison Hughes scored three times and assisted thrice. Frosh Isabel Smith scored her first varsity goal. Ana Irwin and Taylor Poggi had key assists. Goalie April Harvey made eleven saves.

On Tuesday, Molly Fischer led the scorers with five goals and two assists against the Spartans.

Alayna Hutchinson had three goals and two assists. Alex Mark scored three times with an assist. Maddy Hughes filled the net twice and assisted once. Cat Todd also scored, and Taylor Poggi assisted twice.

The girls are away at Coyle & Cassidy, Thursday.

The team plays at Scituate on Friday. A busy week.