The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School girls’ soccer team was soundly defeated Tuesday, 4-0, by the Bishop Feehan Shamrocks in the Vineyard’s final game of the season. Back-to-back goals late in the first half of play from Andrea Guinean and Emily Hogan put the game out of reach for the Vineyarders, who were only able to squeeze through eight shots on goal for the day.
Even in light of the final outcome, the Vineyard’s defense withstood a forceful attack by an undefeated team that’s averaging two-and-a-half goals per game, while only allowing one goal the entire season. This was the Vineyard’s second loss this year to a virtually unstoppable Shamrock squad.
In their first meeting, Coach Rocco Bellebuono said, they had focused on a very specific defensive strategy. After allowing three goals in the first half, the less experienced Vineyarders were able to shut Feehan’s offense out in the second. Of that performance, Coach Bellebuono said, “We showed amazing organization against a team with amazing firepower, against girls that play year-round. I think we really frustrated them in that second half.”
On Tuesday, the team expected to win. It was senior appreciation day, a time for the coaching staff, parents, and teammates to recognize the seniors as they pass the torch. During halftime — and down only two goals — Bellebuono reminded his team that they were playing well. The score didn’t reflect their efforts. “They were doing the things that we’ve been working on,” he said.
But two more goals in the second half by Feehan striker Emily Hogan gave her a hat trick for the day, and proved to be too much for the young Vineyarder team to overcome.
During the senior appreciation ceremony, Coach Bellebuono reflected on seniors Kaela Vecchia-Zeitz, Casey McAndrews, Courtney Howell, Molly Houghton, Taynara Goncalves, and Chanaporn Eksiri. Asked what these girls will have left behind, Coach Bellebuono said, “It doesn’t matter who your opponent is, at the beginning of the game the score is 0-0. And these seniors were right on board with that mentality.”
