Sports
By Don Lyons - September 27, 2007
Looking for an edge, Taylor Smith, Nate Hurwitz, and Thomas Lloyd-Phillips lean into the start of the JV race. Photos by Ralph Stewart
Manchester Invitational
The Vineyard cross-country teams, both reigning champions of the Mayflower Large League, entered the 33rd annual Manchester Invitational at Derryfield Park in Manchester, N.H., Saturday.
The Islanders were placed in the large school category with 43 other schools from New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and Massachusetts.
It was their eighth trip to the Invitational.
The course at Derryfield is one of the most challenging in New England with more than two miles of uphill running as well as steeplechase-like barriers.
Freshman Megan Dreyer ran well for the M.V.
In freshmen races, Megan Dreyer was 27th of 159 girls covering the 2.1 miles in 15:00. Willie Nevin's time was 13:45. He was 107th of 236 boys.
In the girls junior varsity race, Nika Penicaud was 196th of 290 in 26:55. Eliza Gowell was 277th in 30:51.
Mike Kendall led a team of seven in the boys JV race. He was 117th of 413 runners in 19:57. Nate Hurwitz was 137th, Thomas Lloyd-Phillips 161st, Taylor Smith was 196th, Thomas Knowles was 295th, Chad Curtis was 321st and Michael Alberice was 382nd. As a team, the MV JVs were 29th of 56 schools.
The girls varsity team finished 21st of 35 schools led by Hilary Dreyer's 55th position in 22:06. Sarah Flanders was 60th in 22:10, Emily Carter came in 106th at 23:06. Kim Carlomagno was 152nd in 24:07. Then came Liz Reid at 186th, Ellie Hehre at 198th and Emily Sobel at 237th.
The boys varsity was 36th of 41 schools, led by Lucas Emin, 136th at 18:57 and Max Conley, 148th in 19:09.
Robbie Osmers and Forrest Harcourt finished together in 20:06, filling the 214, 215 spots. Evan Kendall was just seven seconds behind and was 219th. Ben Williams was 241st at 20:47 and Alan Wiley 251st in 21:12.
Mike Kendall clears one of the steeplechase barriers on the woodland course.
In all, some 3,500 runners competed at Manchester.
Coach Joe Schroeder was pleased with the showing of his freshmen and junior varsity runners, but "some varsity kids walked out of there thinking they could've done better."
Even so, the Vineyarders improved on their 2006 efforts. "I'm not displeased at all," the coach said.
Following the meet, the runners and their coaches, with Times photographer Ralph Stewart, headed for Caratunk, Maine, for some whitewater rafting on the Kennebec River.
Filipe Freitas goes airborne to avoid a Fairhaven tackle near the sideline.
Hammond's headers
The unbeaten, twice tied, MVRHS boys soccer team topped Nantucket on the Whalers turf, Wednesday, 2-1. Ryan Dwane put the Vineyard on the scoreboard in the first half and Nico Cuba made it 2-zip in the second. Nantucket's Jasper Young converted a penalty kick to reduce the lead, but that was as close as the Whalers would get.
Fairhaven bedeviled the Islanders Tuesday, handing them their first loss of the year, 3-2. Tyler Blanchard scored all of the Blue Devils' goals. Nico Cuba accounted for both of the Vineyard's.
Cuba posted the first goal 11 minutes into the contest. But before the 40-minute half was over, Blanchard had put the Devils up, 2-1. Blanchard added his third goal midway in the second half. M.V. had two shots on goal bounce off the cross bar before Cuba found the net for the second and last time.
Alex Poole and Leandro Trindade were credited with assists. Kenny MacDonald played well at midfield. Fairhaven defender Kyle Fertig was a frequent source of frustration for the Islanders. M.V. stands at 8-1-2 on the year.
The Vineyard JV squad dominated the Blue Devil jayvees, 5-1.
Rachel Schubert hurries the ball upfield, accompanied by a Whaler midfielder.
One in column W
The M.V. girls varsity soccer team clearly outplayed visiting Nantucket, Wednesday, with more shots on goal, more steals, more minutes in possession of the ball, more everything but points, The Vineyarders simply could not get the ball by the Whaler goalkeeper and lost, 2-0.
The girls posted their first win of the season, Tuesday, shutting out Diman Voke at Fall River, 5-0.
Meaghan Gouldrup started the scoring seven minutes into the game, converting a volley from Erin Morris. Emma Lee Iversen was assisted by Rachel Schubert one minute later. The Vineyard's next two goals were by Alexia Schroeder abetted by Meaghan Gouldrup. Maddy Penicaud completed the scoring in the closing minutes of the first half.
There were no points posted in the second period. The shutout goalie was Kia Minor. The varsity girls record is 1-6-1.
The MV junior varsity romped over the lady Bengals, 9-0.
