In a non-league battle, the Pioneers (5-1-2) of boys soccer dropped their first game of the season Monday afternoon, losing to the visiting Masconomet Chieftains at Pioneer Stadium, 2-0.
“It was a hard-fought game, but they were very good. We’re at the end of a long, hard stretch and Masco was just very good and was just too much for us today,” said coach Brent Munroe. “It was physical, but clean, I thought, but we had some chances. We didn’t move the ball very well and had a hard time getting and keeping possession. Masco was just the better team today.”
Munroe said junior Rocco Scenna and senior Tyler Maddocks played well. The Pioneers are back in action Tuesday at Pentucket at 7 p.m. (too late to print).
BOYS SOCCER
St. Mary’s 1
Lynnfield 1
Two strong programs played to a 1-1 tie at Manning Field Saturday in non-conference action. Eider Solis netted a penalty-kick goal in the final minute for the Spartans, while Scenna found the back of the net for the Pioneers.
St. John’s Prep 2
Xaverian 0
Make it six wins in as many games for the St. John’s Prep boys soccer team, which defeated Xaverian, 2-0, on enemy turf on Thursday, Sept. 19. Senior captain Matt Foley scored the game-winning strike, putting home a free kick from senior Jack Quigley by the back post.
Senior Jack Neal did it himself, unassisted, to secure the win in the second half. Junior keeper Matt Droggitis made eight saves to make it three consecutive shutouts. The Eagles remain perfect in the Catholic Conference at 4-0.
FOOTBALL
St. John’s Prep 31
Central Catholic 24
Prep quarterback Christopher Vargas found Josh Haarmann to tie the game (7-7 after extra point) in the first quarter, and that was only the beginning of a scoring barrage.
After a field goal from the Eagles, Jordan Toribio broke off a 36-yard touchdown to give The Prep a 10-point cushion (17-7). He added another touchdown to make it 24-7 by halftime.
Central began a valiant comeback, but Vargas floated one to Merrick Barlow for a touchdown to put things out of reach.
GOLF
St. John’s Prep 214
Malden Catholic 254
It was an overall team effort from the Eagles, who dispatched Malden Catholic at Mt. Hood Golf Course. Seamus O’Holleran (36), AJ Bodnar (35), and Jack Carew (34) all lowered their season averages to a 36.2. Tripp Hollister (38) moved his season average to a 36.7.
St. John’s Prep 225
Xaverian 234
The St. John’s Prep golfers took care of business against a familiar foe on Thursday. Leading the way were Brian Loughlin (35), Tripp Hollister (36), Jack Carew (37), Seamus O’Holleran (39), and AJ Bodnar (40).
“We’ve now won five straight matches and in each of those five, we’ve had at least one player shoot under-par. This time, it was co-captain Brian Loughlin’s turn, who did it with an impressive 12 putts through nine holes.”
St. John’s Prep 219
St. John’s Shrewsbury 224
The Prep (4-1) took care of business with Seamus O’Holleran’s 34 leading the way. Jack Moriarty was the second-place Eagle with a 35.
“It takes a complete team effort,” said coach Brian Jasiak. “Typically, you have to break 220 with all six scores under 40 to have a chance, and we did just that for the first time this season with three straight road wins in consecutive days. The whole team contributed, led by a 2-under par round from Seamus O’Holleran, two birdies from Jack Moriarty for his 1-under round, along with the lone eagle of the match from AJ Bodnar to secure his even-par round.”
VOLLEYBALL
On Sept. 12 at home, the Pioneers (4-1) rallied from a one-set deficit to extend their win streak to three straight. The match was back and forth from start to finish. The Clippers took the first set, 25-18 to take a 1-0 lead. Lynnfield leveled the match with a tight 25-23 win in the second set and took a 2-1 lead with a 25-20 win in the third set. The Pioneers closed out the match with a 25-22 win in the fourth set.
Audrey Manning had a solid all-around game with 15 assists, 11 digs, four aces, three blocks and one kill. Erin Highdon (7 aces, 6 digs, 2 kills) had a team-high 16 assists. Chase Carangelo (10 kills, 3 aces, assist) had a team-high 18 digs. Chase Carangelo (10 kills, 3 aces, assist) had a team-high 18 digs. Erika Pasquale (6 digs, 2 aces) led the offense with 18 kills. Ava Willoughby (12 digs, assist), Kim Staffieri (8 digs, ace) Alexia Vacquerano (5 kills, 2 blocks), Olivia Kelter (4 digs, 3 aces), and Kacie Lilly (2 kills, 2 blocks, assist) also got on the board.
