Mike Sainristil makes the defensive play of the day
By Cary Shuman
It wasn’t quite Frank Nuzzo and a 97-yard return of an interception for a touchdown in the 2002 Super Bowl but Mike Sainristil certainly gets a spot on the list of all-time defensive plays in Everett’s glorious postseason history.
Sainristil stepped in front of a Haverhill pass in the third quarter, made a leaping interception, and raced 87 yards for a touchdown, all but sealing the Tide’s 35-6 victory over the Hillies Saturday night at Trinity Stadium.
“That Pick-6 was very important in swaying momentum to our way,” said head coach John DiBiaso.
Sainristil knew he had done something grand when reporters sought him out for an interview after the game.
Asked about the defensive touchdown, Sainristil replied, “It felt great. The coaches were rotating me on defense all week and it was time for me to step up and make a big play and I just went out there and did what I had to do.”
Sainristil, a 5-foot-10-inch, 165 pound sophomore whose primary post is wide receiver, said he was keeping an eye on Haverhill quarterback Broghean McGovern at the outset of the play.
“But in my peripheral view, I could see No. 22 [Pedro Santiago] break and as soon he broke, the quarterback looked right and threw it and I just made a downhill play – I picked it off, ran my fastest down the sidelines, and followed my blockers.”
Sainristil said he’s trying to help the Everett seniors win the ultimate prize: a Division 1 Super Bowl title.
“They want it all and I’m going to give it everything I have to get them what they want and once they leave – the same thing for the next class and the next class. We’re family and we’re continuing Everett’s tradition.”
Sainristil said the team moved forward after its overtime loss to Billerica in Week Four.
“Practices have been tough. Coach told us that we can’t go back to that Billerica game because it was 14-0 in the first quarter and we thought it was over. He told us all week that Haverhill was a very good team.”
Next up for Sainristil and Everett is a very good Central Catholic team Saturday at 5 p.m. at Burlington High School.
Rescheduled annual girls soccer clinic
**NEW DATE AND TIME: SATURDAY NOVEMBER 5 @MADELINE ENGLISH SCHOOL 11AM-12:30PM 105 Woodville St, Everett, MA 02149
Girls of all ages welcome to come and learn from the EHS Girls Soccer team as well as high school and youth program coaches!
*Everett Soccer Club will be registering all interested BOYS and GIRLS for winter soccer workouts*
High School Coaches info:
Bruno Wroblewski [email protected] or (508)826-1892
Sabrina Mendez [email protected]
Kendra Wroblewski [email protected] or (978)729-7030
*Contact info for Everett youth program for boys and girls, Everett Soccer Club; President: John Perkins [email protected] (617)817-7672
EHS volleyball team completes best season in years
The Everett High volleyball team finished its most successful season in years with a convincing 3-0 win over Saugus on the Lady Crimson Tide’s Senior Night last Tuesday.
The Everett girls, who finished in second place in the Greater Boston League and achieved winning records at home and in the GBL, also were a clutch 5-0 in matches that went five sets.
“It was a great year,” said head coach Mike Fineran, who equaled a career-high with nine wins, “and the Saugus victory was a great way to end the year.”
Before the game, Everett honored 14 seniors, including five who were with the squad all four years: Thaliany Beltran, Lisa Quang, Nathanny Balbino, Ariele Da Cunha, and Sabrina Moreta. They were joined in the starting lineup by Danielle Burge, who missed her sophomore season with a knee injury. “The girls who’ve been with this team for three or four years have been through a lot of ups and downs, but they’ve been resilient and it was nice to see them play so well together,” said Fineran.
In the first set, Everett took an early lead behind Beltran’s serves, but fell behind 11-4. But like they’ve done again and again this year, Everett battled back, led first by Balbino, whose powerful serves propelled the Tide to a 14-11 lead. Moreta, finishing her second year as captain, showed why she has held that honor, nailing five straight aces to build a 23-13 lead.
Danniela Duperior was a force in the back row and Jalissa Harding closed out the set with a kill.
In the second set, Balbino’s serves once again swung momentum Everett’s way, stretching a one-point lead to a 10-3 advantage. An ace by Mariah Matos and strong defense from Brennan Moore and Catherine Gerrard pushed Everett’s lead to 21-12. Yasmin Silveira, Mia LaRosa, and Nyomi Dottin made key contributions in the 25-15 win.
The third set offered a glimpse into the future, as juniors Isabella Lyles and Yasmeen Guerrier helped Everett jump out to a 10-2 lead. Lyles had two kills and four aces, and Guerrier had four assists, including one on a kill from freshman Bianca May, who saw her first action as an outside hitter. Burge had four serves with an ace and a kill and Dottin served six in a row to put Everett up 20-10. Da Cunha and Moreta each had a kill in the game’s final rallies, and Everett took the set and the match 25-13.
“That was a total team effort. All 17 players contributed to that win,” said Fineran.
Though Everett had been officially eliminated from postseason play the day before in Brockton, Fineran said the team has a lot to be proud of. “We won one game last year. This year, we were one game away from the tournament. That’s a tremendous turnaround, and all the credit goes to the players, especially the seniors,” said Fineran. “I’m glad they got to go out on a high note.”
EHS Roundup
EHS soccer team awaits tourney foe
Coach Oswaldo Constanza and his Everett High boys soccer team were awaiting word today (Wednesday) of the expected announcement of the seedings and first-round pairings for the upcoming MIAA Division 1 North Sectional of the state soccer championships.
Constanza and his crew punched their ticket for a Journey to the Tourney early in the season and have been playing to improve their seeding in hopes of earning a home game in the opening round.
The Crimson Tide, who stood at 9-4-4 on the season entering yesterday’s (Tuesday) final game of the year at Needham, dropped a 2-0 decision to Greater Boston League champion Somerville last Wednesday evening under the lights at Everett Stadium in a contest highlighted by Senior Night festivities.
“It was a well-played game against one of the top teams in the state,” said Constanza of his squad’s efforts. “We had our chances, but could not capitalize, while Somerville made good on their opportunities.”
The visiting Highlanders, who are ranked second in the state this week in the Boston Globe poll with a record of 14-0-1, scored both of their goals in the first half at the 20 and 30 minute marks.
“We showed we can play with a top team such as Somerville and that experience and confidence should serve us well in the upcoming state tournament,” said Constanza, who cited the strong play of center backs Jason Castro and Pablo Miranda and forward Gabriel Meireles in the contest with the Highlanders. “We’re looking forward to the tourney.”
EHS girls soccer team trips Triton in season finale
The Everett High girls soccer team ended its season on a high note with a 3-2 triumph over Triton Saturday.
Krisia Arevalo, Carolann Cardinale, and Stephanie Perkins reached the back of the Triton net to account for the Lady Crimson Tide goals. EHS head coach Sabrina Carvalho also praised the play of senior keeper Brittany MacArthur and fellow seniors Erin Bessler, Kelly Reyes, Kelsi Baquedano, and Tricia Garcia for their fine play in the winning effort.
Last Tuesday, Perkins scored the goal for Everett in a 1-1 tie with Lynn English in a contest that was highlighted by Senior Night festivities. In subsequent losses of 4-1 to Somerville and Lowell later in the week, Arevalo and Bessler scored the Everett goals respectively.