Although the Everett High girls soccer team came up short in its season-opening contests last week, head coach Dom Persuitte saw many good signs that bode well for the coming season.
In an 8-0 loss to non-league opponent Brockton last Tuesday, the Lady Crimson Tide battled to a 0-0 standoff through the opening half.
“Despite the loss, we held our ground during the first half,” said Persuitte. “Emilia Maria-Babcock, who has taken on the role of goalkeeper from the previous season, had a stellar performance. She turned away countless shots from Brockton and kept us in the game.
“Other notable players were Giselle Lemus and Sofia Arana-Quintanilla, who helped the back line of the defense. In the midfield, Luna Maselli played an amazing role in keeping the ball moving and the team organized,” Persuitte added.
The Tide then came up just short, 1-0, in their contest with Greater Boston League (GBL) rival Medford on Thursday.
“This was a callous, physical game,” said Persuitte. “Emilia Maria-Babcock had another stellar performance in the net, turning away shot after shot. The team played extremely well, with open communication and stringing passes. Some notable players from the game were Sofia Arana-Quintanilla on defense, Alondra Flores at the CDM role, Connie Paz Hernandez, and Kathleen DeSouza on the wings. Yelsa Garcia played a pivotal role in drawing the Medford defense, which allowed DeSouza, Paz Hernandez, and Kayla Andrade to get some shots on the Medford net.”
This past Saturday, Everett dropped a 7-1 decision to non-league foe Methuen.
“It was another tough loss,” said Persuitte, “but we were seeing signs of improvement. Emilia Maria-Babcock kept turning away shot after shot for us. Her tireless effort kept us in the game, despite the score.”
Yelsa Garcia netted the Tide’s first goal of the season after a deflected pass that came off a cross. Yelsa dribbled around the Methuen center backs and slotted the goal.
“Once this happened, a spark was lit for us,” said Persuitte. “Everyone picked up their heads and realized we could cut the deficit. Notable players who held their ground against this physical Methuen team were Giselle Lemus on defense, Alondra Flores at the CDM role, and Luna Maselli in the midfield. All three of our captains kept the spirit of the team up. A newcomer to the team, Lavina Batista Simon, who was pulled up from the JV squad, made a very noticeable impression, which has solidified her new promotion to the varsity squad.
“There is much more to work on, but good things are coming down the road in the coming weeks,” Persuitte added. The Tide were scheduled to play GBL foes Malden yesterday (Tuesday); at Chelsea tomorrow (Thursday); and at Revere next Tuesday.