BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Hornets second at CALs: Competing in the annual Cape Ann League Championship on Saturday afternoon, Manchester Essex snared a second place team finish behind winner Amesbury. Both teams scored 80 points, but the tie breaker was used and Amesbury had the faster finishing sixth runner, giving them a narrow title.
Isaiah Nicastro shined for the Hornets, snaring third overall in 16:45. Gus Hall was eighth with a personal best time of 17:13 to aid in the fantastic team finish. Both runners claimed all-star status.
In addition, Lemi Marshall was 21st, Devin Peavey 23rd, Sean Aloi 25th, Jonas Coletta 41st and Matt Ala 45th. Soli Boraks and Milo Sullivan also both ran personal bests in the open race.
Next up, Manchester will compete in the state divisional championships on November 14 at Wrentham (2 p.m.).
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Manchester Essex fourth at CALs: Competing in the Cape Ann League Championships, Manchester Essex finished fourth overall with 115 points and a pair of all-star performers. River Martin led the charge in third (19:52) followed by teammate Anna Sergi in 12th (21:39), both of whom earned that all-star status.
Fellow Hornets Anna Garth (31st), Bobbi Monahan (34th), Grace Castellucci (37th), Joy Castellucci (40th) and Kalin Bennett (44th) also ran well.
BOYS SOCCER
Rockport 1, Gloucester 0: The Vikings (8-9-1) closed out the regular season with their fifth straight win, getting revenge on a Gloucester team that had beaten them earlier in the year by the same score. Flynn Blanchard scored the lone goal of the game very early into the first half, striking a ball from the corner of the 18-yard box after a short corner kick from Deion Kasera.
“It was a great back and forth game,” said RHS coach Conor Douglass. “(Goalie) Will Ranta made some big saves for us to keep the lead (and) our back line of Jack Trupiano, MJ Silver, Mario DeBenedictis, Rowan Beers and Alex Sly did a great job winning 50/50 balls in the air to help us keep generating offense.”
For Gloucester, which closes the regular season at 9-8-1, head coach Armando Marnoto noted that it was a great game with a “playoff atmosphere.” His group is excited for the upcoming Division 3 state tournament.
Manchester Essex 5, Hamilton-Wenham 0: Hosting their league rivals for Senior Night late last Thursday under the lights at Hyland Field, the Hornets (11-2-4) picked up a convincing bounce back win.
“The boys were really fired up to play,” said Manchester Essex coach Robbie Bilsbury. “We had a big crowd down there, started an all-senior lineup, it was just an awesome night for our boys.”
Ronan McGilligan got the scoring started about five minutes in, stealing a potential Generals’ clear and burying a shot. No more than five minutes later, Chase Spencer made a similar play to steal possession, take a touch at the 17 and pound another shot home for a quick 2-0 lead. It remained that score until halftime, before the Hornets exploded for three more in the final 40 minutes.
Morgan Nichols orchestrated the third goal, floating a long direct kick into the box that was headed home by H-W for an own goal.
“Really dangerous ball from Morgan. They had the last touch for an own goal, but it was a great ball,” said Bilsbury.
Ellis Rodi then increased the lead with a great individual play and tight angled shot. Luke Pilaud then assisted on Spencer’s second goal to solidify the scoring late.
Bilsbury also shouted out the efforts from Nic Muchantaf — “he was phenomenal with his through balls; he was clutch for us,” said the coach. Manchester will head to Triton for its regular season finale on Monday at 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Rockport 5, Gloucester 1: In a game that was closer than the final score would suggest, the Vikings (5-10-2) erupted for five unanswered second half goals to win their second straight. Sunny Gallagher and Caitie Dewan each scored twice in the win, with the latter closing things out with a PK strike. Dewan also added an assist, with the other goal going to Taylor Sweet. Emilia O’Connor tallied two helpers and Lucy Flanagan had another assist.
“The game started out rough for us. The wind was blowing pretty strong and we were against it in the first half,” explained RHS coach Sharon Chapman. “Gloucester was doing an excellent job shutting down Caitie and Sunny forcing us to rely on other players to score. But once the second half started, our players really stepped up.”
Rockport has a quick turnaround, playing at home against Georgetown on Monday (4 p.m.) to close out the regular season.
For Gloucester (now 2-13-2), which will wrap up its season on Monday at home against Beverly at 4:30, Ava Borowick scored the lone goal in the opening half to give her team a lead. Meadow Anderson tallied the assist on the play.
FIELD HOCKEY
Manchester Essex 1, Andover 1: Hornets’ standout Wren Lewis scored the lone goal on Friday to help her team secure a quality tie against a strong Division 1 opponent. Manchester (10-4-3) will now await its draw in the upcoming Division 4 state tournament.
VOLLEYBALL
Triton 3, Gloucester 0: Down a key starter in senior Sara Fernandes, the Fishermen (11-9) dropped a 13-25, 17-25, 23-25 decision in their regular season finale on Friday evening. Senior captain setter Kadijah Kaba served four aces, had a kill, a block and two digs in the loss, while fellow captain Jocelyn Maddalena had two aces, two kills and two digs. Senior libero Maddison Goodhue also played well with two aces and nine digs.