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How sweep it is!
M.V. girls and boys beat Nantucket
By Ralph Stewart
The Vineyard girls and boys lacrosse squads rode the fast ferry to Nantucket on Saturday and returned home with a pair of Maritime League victories over their archrivals.
The girls got three goals from Hayley Pierce in a 12-6 win, and the boys survived a furious fourth-quarter Whaler comeback to win 9-8 on Colby Gouldrup’s goal in overtime.
Both varsity teams, jayvee players, parents, and fans —over 100 people in all — boarded the New England Fast Ferry on a beautiful Saturday morning and made the one-hour trip to Nantucket.
The company offered the Vineyard lacrosse boosters a generous rate, just enough to cover its costs on the day.
NEFF Island terminal manager John Tiernan emphasized the importance of the Island rivalry. “Nantucket is the last true rival we have and this [lacrosse] is the only sport where we’re in the same league,” he said. “We’re doing whatever we can to keep the rivalry alive. We’re here for the Island. We encourage all the schools to contact us, anytime they have to go to Nantucket, or go anywhere. We are open for charters. We’ll make it affordable, no matter what they want to go over there and do.”
The girls were first to take the field at Vito Capizzo Stadium and quickly had their hosts three goals down, thanks to goals from Molly Fischer, Hayley Pierce, and Kate Cecilio.
Fischer tallied again and Pierce scored twice more to put the Vineyarders ahead 7-2 early in half two.
M.V. increased its lead to 10-3 on goals from Maddie Hughes, Cat Todd, and Brianna Davies before the Whalers scored three straight to briefly make things interesting late in the second half.
Coach Betsy Dripps wisely called a time out and M.V. responded by milking the clock and getting insurance markers from Kate Cecilio and Alayna Hutchinson to seal the win.
Coach Dripps was pleased with her balanced offense and cited Olivia Gross and Lonni Phillips for their defensive efforts and Brianna Davies for tenacious midfield play.
“I was proud of them, they’re good and they’re on a roll,” coach Dripps said. “Our new goalie Maggie Johnson did a superb job, the defense did well, and I was pleased with everybody.”
Boys also win
The boys game was a story of two quarters. The Vineyarders broke the game open in the second period, scoring four times to lead 5-1 at the break. Then the Whalers overturned a 7-2 deficit, scoring six times in the final stanza to tie the game at 8 with one minute left in regulation.
Erik Dolliver, Brooks Billingham (2), Chris Costello, and DJ Kaeka scored in the first half. Colby Gouldrup and Shane Schofield netted M.V. goals six and seven in half two.
The four-minute overtime was a microcosm of a game that crackled with the kind of intensity one has come to expect from the Island rivalry through the years. Both teams ran furiously up and down the field, each coming close to scoring and leaving their respective fans breathless, until Louis Jacobs-Walsh fed Colby Gouldrup for the game-winner with 45 seconds remaining.
Back on the fast ferry, coach Chris Greene needed to catch a few breaths before offering his analysis.
“Great game…that is the rivalry that is Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. It’s always a nail-biter,” he said.
“I knew if we didn’t shut the door that Nantucket would have one of its patented runs. They got back in the game, but today was just our day…We played with heart.”
Thursday the M.V. boys dropped Bridgewater–Raynham, here, 14-7. Eric Dolliver and Max Conley led the purple attack each with four goals.
Sophomore goalie Nelson Dickson was credited with 17 saves on 24 chances. Colby Gouldrup, also a sophomore, won 12 of 14 draws. Darren Gazaille won seven of 10.
On Tuesday, M.V. beat New Bedford here, 13-2. Billingham, Conley, and Gouldrup each scored three times. Jacobs-Walsh had two goals and Shane Schofield, Chris Costello, and Jordan Wallace contributed one.
The Islanders tackle Westford Academy away on Saturday.
Also Tuesday, the M.V. girls crushed New Bedford here, 15-4. Kate Cecilio led the offense with four goals and three assists. Both Hayley Pierce and Molly Fischer scored three times. Alayna Hutchinson and Maddie Hughes each had two. Angela DeBettencourt also scored.
Goalie Maggie Johnson had 11 saves. The unbeaten M.V. girls travel to Norwell, today.
Cutlines:
Girls game:
Maddie Hughes leaps and fires a shot on goal in the first half.
Alayna Hutchinson battles a Whaler for loose ball
Hayley Pierce keeps her eye on the ball in the Nantucket crease.
Boys Game:
Colby Gouldrup takes off upfield en-route to scoring the winning goal in overtime.
Ouch! Chris Costello gets a rude whack from his Nantucket adversary.
Louis Jacobs-Walsh tries to elude a Whaler defender.
