Sports Roundup: Golf Clinches Spot In State Tournament Qualifier,…

This Whaler sports roundup includes updates on the golf team after they clinched a spot in the state tournament qualifier, the boys soccer team after they earned a big road win against last year’s Div. 4 state championship runner-up, the girls soccer team after tying Monomoy, the field hockey team, and the volleyball team.

Young Golf Team Earns Spot In State Tourney Qualifier

Coming into this season, there were questions as to whether the Nantucket golf team would be in for a rebuild after graduating every varsity golfer from last year’s team that finished fourth in the Div. 3 state tournament.

But on Thursday, the Whalers won their eighth match of the season and officially clinched a spot in the state tournament qualifier – a testament to the young players who developed quickly as the year progressed and the coaching staff – led by head coach Sam Herrick – that helped these golfers get comfortable quickly with playing at the varsity level.

“I couldn’t be happier with the hard work and effort these guys have put in,” Herrick said. “The Cape Cod Times had Nantucket 16th out of the 16 cape teams to start the season this year, which really lit a fire for everyone to get better.”

Below are the scores from Thursday’s match against the Sturgis East Storm, a 264-277 win by Nantucket.

Ben Freeman: 40

David Boulter: 42

Emil Ivanov: 44

TQ Scarlett: 45

Alex Horton: 46

Hunter Bistany: 47

Paxton Fitch: 49

Colby Lucas: 50

On Wednesday, the Whalers earned an impressive road win against Cape Cod Academy 268-276. That win put the Whalers in position to clinch a spot in the qualifier on Thursday because an eighth win ensures they finish at least .500 on the season.

Below are the scores from Wednesday’s match.

David Foley: 42

Paxton Fitch: 42

David Boulter: 44

TQ Scarlett: 45

Hunter Bistany: 47

Ben Freeman: 48

Alex Horton: 49

“We haven’t put up our best scores recently and we have a ton of work to do,” Herrick said. “But with two matches left, we have an opportunity to finish out the year with a winning season, which is an incredible feat. Like I’ve said before, we had zero varsity experience coming into this year and we’re looking to show everyone on the cape and rest of the state just how dangerous we could be.”

The golf team, now 8-6 this year, will host the Dennis-Yarmouth Dolphins on Tuesday, October 8 at 3:45 p.m. The Whalers played DY on the road September 9 and won 260-271.

Boys Soccer Beats Monomoy 3-1

The Nantucket boys soccer team traveled to Monomoy to face the Sharks Thursday afternoon for a major Cape & Island’s matchup with the reigning Div. 4 state championship runner-ups. The Whalers took control of the game early and eventually went onto win 3-1 behind two goals from freshman star Stoyan Popov.

Head coach Rich Brannigan II told the Current that it was a complete team win on the road and that his squad never looked back after Popov’s first strike three minutes into the match. The 1-0 lead stuck going into halftime, but Monomoy scored early in the second half to make it a 1-1 game.

The Whalers didn’t wait long to regain the lead and grabbed hold of the game again just five minutes after Monomoy scored thanks to a goal from freshman Aldo Lemus. With 14 minutes left in the match, Popov scored his second goal of the match to close the game out for the Whalers.

Senior captain Jake Johnson, known for his scoring, had two assists on the day. Brannigan said the Nantucket back line played well and was led by seniors Ryan Coleman, Ray Ruiz and sophomore Edvin Valentukevicius. Junior keeper Alex Ivalov had four saves on the day.

Nantucket is now 5-1-4 this season and after beating the Sharks, who are ranked #18 in the latest Div. 4 bracket, the Whalers will likely see their rank climb from their current spot at #21. They will try to improve to 6-1-4 when they host the Dennis-Yarmouth Dolphins on Monday, October 7 at 4 p.m.

Girls Soccer Ties Monomoy

The Whaler girls soccer team was able to shake off losing their star striker – senior captain Adney Brannigan – to an injury Thursday afternoon against the Monomoy Sharks and secured a 1-1 tie. The tie makes their record 5-2-3 this season.

“That one goal (allowed) aside, we played most of the game in their own end,” Whaler head coach Doug LeBrecht said. “I think we controlled the ball most of the time we just couldn’t finish. We couldn’t break their (back four). Adney did. I am impressed with (the tie).”

The Whaler’s goal was scored by junior Myah Johnson from about 25 yards out. LeBrecht said after the match he has been very impressed with junior Allyson Escobar in the Whaler’s back end.

“We feel very comfortable with her,” LeBrecht said. “She has been playing dynamite in that back. She has solid feet. It allows us to push (up front) a little harder. She has a confidence to her.”

Nantucket will try to improve to 6-2-3 on Saturday, October 5 when they host the Falmouth Clippers at 4 p.m. You can view more photos from this game by clicking here.

Field Hockey Loses To Monomoy

The Nantucket field hockey team has been playing excellent so far this fall, but their kryptonite has been the Monomoy Sharks who after beating the Whalers 3-0 on the island Wednesday afternoon, are now responsible for handing the 7-2-1 Whalers their only two losses this season.

“We played well,” head coach Dan Weber said. “I don’t think we played perfect, and its hard to be perfect. We will bounce back though. That is a good team. Those are the only two losses we have on the season right now. I think it will sting for the next 12-24 hours and then we have practice (on Thursday), and we got Nauset on Friday. We will shake it off, we’ll bounce right back, and we’ll be here on Friday ready to go.”

Weber continues to be impressed with senior captain Maddie Lombardi in the midfield, as well as the forwards who were able to generate some scoring opportunities but just couldn’t finish any of those chances in this match.

“I think Maddie Lombardi has been strong. I think she’s been strong all season,” Weber said. “I think that we generated some scoring chances up there. I thought the forwards were pretty good when they had their chances. It’s just when you’re playing a really good team like that, you’re only going to get what, maybe eight or 10 total chances? So how many of those can you convert?

“I thought we did a good job of giving ourselves an opportunity to score,” Weber continued. “It’s just having that finishing touch to put it in the back of the net. I can’t say that I’m upset with how we played. I know we played well; we were right there. It’s the number two team in the division (we just faced).”

Nantucket, the #9 seed in the latest Div. 4 rankings, will try to get back in the win column when they host the Nauset Warriors on Friday, October 4 at 3 p.m.

Volleyball Loses Road Matchup To Falmouth

The Nantucket volleyball team dropped to 2-9 this season following a 3-0 defeat to the Falmouth Clippers Thursday afternoon. Nantucket was led by senior Leah Crowley and her seven kills, senior Bianca Santos and her nine assists, and senior captain Vicky Todorova and her 14 digs.

Below are the set results from the match.

Set One: 11-25 Falmouth

Set Two: 5-25 Falmouth

Set Three: 25-27 Falmouth

Nantucket will try to earn their third win of the season when they travel to Barnstable for a match with the Red Hawks on Monday, October 7 at 4 p.m.

SCHEDULE AHEAD:

Friday, October 4:

The field hockey team will host the Nauset Warriors at 4 p.m.

The football team will be on the road facing the Nauset Warriors at 4 p.m.

Saturday, October 5:

The girls soccer team will host the Falmouth Clippers at 4 p.m.

Sunday, October 6:

There are no games currently scheduled on this date.