The Everett High girls soccer team kicked off its 2011 campaign with a pair of impressive victories this past week. Coach DeAnn Larrabee’s squad took the measure of Greater Boston League rival Malden, 5-1, last week and then edged Lynn English of the Northeastern Conference, 3-2, Monday evening in a hard fought contest.
Senior captain Katie Steeves notched the hat trick against Malden, while junior teammate Kayla Ringdahl reached the back of the net twice. Junior Juliana Martins assisted on both of Ringdahl’s markers, while senior captain Senior captain Jackie Steeves and Ringdahl assisted on two of Katie Steeves’s goals, the other being unassisted.
The Malden contest was tied at 1-1 at the half, with Malden having scored on a penalty kick. However, the Lady Crimson Tide assumed control of the contest after the intermission and punched in four markers.
The battle with Lynn English under the lights Monday evening was a classic, up-and-down encounter between two physical teams. Sophomore Luana Demenez gave Everett an early lead, assisted by Martins, but English responded with two tallies to take a 2-1 advantage.
However, senior Michelly Santos, assisted by Ringdahl, beat the English goalie late in the half to even the contest at 2-2 before the half. Katie Steeves scored what would prove to be the lone goal of the second half at the 16 minute mark to provide the margin of victory, with Martins being credited with her fourth assist of the season.
“It was a very exciting game,” noted Larrabee. “In the end it came down to which team wanted it more and that proved to be us, which was nice to see.”
Larrabee said she has been pleased with her team’s overall performance as the Lady Crimson Tide seek to improve on their 9-9-2 record of a year ago in which they qualified for the state tournament for the first time in many years.
“We had a very young team last year, but now we’re a bit older and more experienced,” said the coach. “We have great leadership in our captains, Jackie and Katie Steeves, and Zoulikha Madkour,” added Larrabee, who especially lauded Madkour for her fearlessness in goal in the early going.
Larrabee cited the fine play of her defense, led by sophomore sweeper Cheryl Steeves, fleet junior Maeve Kernan, junior Brenda Rivera, junior Kelli Myers, and sophomore Caitlyn Winsor. She also had high praise for Martins, who has been directing the offense from her center midfield position.
“Juliana has been playing so well and so smart,” said Larrabee. “Her passing has been exceptional. She is incredibly unselfish and looks to set up everybody else.”
The Lady Crimson Tide were set to be back in action today (Wednesday) at Cambridge.
Boys soccer team
opens with 1-0 win
The Everett High boys soccer team opened its 2011 season on the right foot (or, to be precise, off the right side of the head of junior Yuri Goncalves) with a 1-0 victory last Friday at Greater Boston League rival Malden.
Goncalves, a junior, notched the only tally of the contest when he headed a deflected ball inside the box off a direct kick by senior Captain Eric Chajon, who struck the ball from about 25 yards out.
Although EHS head coach Fred Jannino was happy to come away with the victory, he noted that he saw a lot of room for his team to improve in the coming weeks.
“We didn’t play as aggressively as we need to,” said Jannino. “We let Malden beat us to too many balls. We were a bit flat and they had the better chances and scoring opportunities. Fortunately, our defense played very well.”
Jannino lauded senior sweeper Christian Garzon, sophomore Luis Licks, and senior Joe Salgado for their fine play in the defensive end. He also cited the effort of senior keeper Oscar Ramos, who earned the shutout in his first varsity start in the net. “Oscar did an outstanding job,” said the coach.
Jannino and his crew will host Cambridge tonight (Wednesday) under the lights at the stadium and will travel to Winthrop tomorrow. They then will be off until next Friday.
EHS sports schedule
Wednesday, September 14
3:30: Golf vs. Malden Catholic
3:45: Field hockey vs. Marblehead
4:00: Girls soccer at Cambridge
7:00: Boys soccer vs. Cambridge
Thursday, September 15
3:30: Golf at Somerville
4:00: GBL Cross Country Open at Fresh Pond
6:00: Boys soccer at Winthrop
Friday, September 16
3:45: Girls soccer vs. Revere
4:00: Volleyball vs. Lynn Classical
7:00 Football vs. Springfield Central Catholic
Monday, September 19
3:30: Golf vs. Malden Catholic
3:45: Field hockey vs. Central Catholic
3:45: Volleyball at Medford
7:00: Girls soccer vs. Saugus
Tuesday, September 20
3:30: Golf vs. Somerville
4:00: Field hockey at revere
Wednesday, September 21
3:45: Cross country vs. Medfor