Sports

By Don Lyons - November 8, 2007

MVRHS post season

Dighton Rehoboth revisited

Sunday, the eighth-seeded Vineyard boys soccer team (9-3-6) hosted ninth-seeded Dighton Rehoboth (11-6-1) in the first round of Division 2 South Sectional games.

The teams had played twice this fall with M.V. winning at home, 2-1, and tying there, 3-3.

The teams were obviously well matched and Sunday's game confirmed the apparent. After two 40-minute halves and two five-minute overtime periods, the score stood at 2-2.

M.V. scored first, with the game just a minute and four seconds old. Alex Poole lifted a corner kick into the crowd in front of the D-R goal and Billy Reagan headed it home.

The Vineyard soon enlarged their lead when Poole's corner kick found Joao Paulo Oliveira's head and J.P. did not hesitate finding the net.

With 16 minutes left in the period, Patrick Landry found a way past M.V. goalie Nico Cuba and at the half the score stood at 2-1, Vineyard up.

A stiff wind chilled spectators and from time to time altered the course of the ball.

Less than a minute into the second half, D-R's Jake Soifert drilled the ball into the net and the score was knotted and stayed that way until the end of the appointed time.

After a brief respite, the teams went at it again in a five-minute overtime. M.V. goalie Nico Cuba kept his team in the game with two remarkable saves.

A second OT was ordered, with similar results.

A five-man penalty shot shootout followed.

Nico Cuba took the first shot and drove it home.

Carlos Alvarez answered for D-R.

Billy Reagan put the Vineyard up again, 2-1.

Keith Rose's shot was blocked by keeper Cuba.

Kenny MacDonald buried the ball in the left corner.

Greg Moulding's kick missed the net and Vineyard fans sensed a win.

Ryan Dwane's shot was stopped by goalie Sam Guimaraes.

Ryan Benedetti upped the ante for D-R.

When Alex Poole's shot eluded Guimaraes the game was over.

Boys bow to top seeded Warriors

Tuesday, the Vineyarders traveled to top-seeded and undefeated Medfield who went 15-0-3 on the season.

After 80 minutes of wet soccer, the Warriors claimed a 2-0 win.

Medfield scored four minutes into the contest off a free kick and held that slim lead until the final minute when a second point was added.

No excuse was offered, but the Islanders had some trouble adjusting to the wet artificial turf.

Nico Cuba was, as usual, strong in goal, keeping the Vineyard in the hunt till the very end. He was credited with 20 saves. Joao Paulo Oliveira an Leandro Trindade were commended by Coach Hammond for their efforts.

The Vineyard defense was strong and effective, led by Alex Poole and Kenny MacDonald.

Coach Hammond said, "It took us a few minutes to adjust to the artificial surface and the pace of the game... All in all I'm happy with our effort."

Tough Hawks grounded

The Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical football team brought its shiny 7-1 season record to the Vineyard, Friday afternoon and left the Island that evening with some of the sheen muted and a record of 7-2.

The Hawks were not pushovers. They fielded a strong team, the strongest Southeastern team in anyone's memory, which tirelessly ran the ball and consistently piled up yardage stats and first downs. But when it came to the Vineyard's end zone, they were stymied.

Meanwhile the Vineyard scored on long plays. MV had only six offensive plays in the first half compared to the Hawks' 41, but led at the break, 7-0, due to a 70-yard dash by Josh Paulson and an extra point kick by Zach Coutinho.

The Hawks responded with an 89-yard drive beginning on their eight but they ran out of downs and time on the Vineyard 3-yard line.

Ben Rossi added to the Vineyard lead when he picked up a Southeastern fumble at midfield and ran 55 yards to score in the third quarter.

The Vineyard's next test at Bristol Plymouth, Friday evening, begins at 6 pm.

Nantucket visits Saturday, Nov. 17. The varsity game is scheduled to begin at 1 pm.

Green Mountain gig

The Martha's Vineyard Rowing Club's youth team competed in the James Wakefield Rescue Row on Lake Champlain, Vermont, an event consisting of numerous heats, concluding with a big race.

The Vineyarders: Aeden Greene, Coco Brown, Issa Walker, Janelle Fortes, Glen Seelye, and Jessey Myers, with their coach Wendy Gray, came in third in their class and second in the race.

Fifteen teams vied for top honors.

The James Wakefield commemorates and act of heroism by Captain Wakefield and his son Jack, who rowed to a ship in distress and saved the ship's captain, daughter, and crew in 1876.

The Islanders found Burlington and its maritime museum to their liking. They look forward to the Ice Breaker regatta at Hull a week from Saturday.

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