Sports Roundup: Top-Ranked Boys Lax Earns 10th Win

This sports roundup includes updates on the boys lacrosse team following their completion of a season sweep over the Nauset Warriors, the girls lacrosse team earning another win, the boys tennis team, and the girls tennis team.

Whalers Earn 10th Win Of Season, Sweep Nauset

The Nantucket boys lacrosse team has one blemish on their resume to date, and it was a 13-6 loss on the road to the Falmouth Clippers on April 9. But as the season goes on, that loss is beginning to look more and more like an anomaly. Since that game, the Whalers have won eight straight games (including an 8-4 win over Falmouth last week) and on Thursday completed the season sweep of the Nauset Warriors after beating them 9-6 on the island.

“It’s been a few years since we swept these guys and they were both great games that could have gone either way,” Nantucket head coach Sam Aloisi said. "If we can just finish up the league, we will be tied with Falmouth for the league (title) I believe, so that's nice. We haven't won the league since this new alignment three (or so years ago).

Nantucket is now 10-1 this season and remains the top seed in the Div. 4 state rankings. New rankings will be released Friday morning at 11 a.m., but the Whalers are expected to remain in that top spot after Thursday’s victory against the #6 team in Div. 3.

The Whalers scored early and often against the Warriors – scoring four goals in the first quarter.

Senior attacker Colby O’Keefe got things going 3:38 into the game. While Nantucket got off to a fast start on the scoreboard, both teams found themselves in a sloppy game with inaccurate passes and frequently lost their footing on the grass surface – Nauset in particular (who normally plays on grass).

After senior attacker Cole Chambers made it a 2-0 game with 3:22 to go in the first, junior midfielder David Cirillo intercepted a pass in the midfield seconds later after the draw. Eventually the ball made its way to Chambers, who buried it for his second goal in 19 seconds to make it 3-0.

The Warriors made it 3-1 with 2:02 to go in the quarter, but the Whalers answered. Star sophomore midfielder Arann Hanlon, who has emerged as an elite offensive threat for this team, found himself with the ball in the final minute and pulled off a nifty dodge to his left, which created some separation from his defender. He found some open space in the middle of the field and bounced a shot five-hole to make it 4-1 with 51.1 seconds left.

Nauset made it a 4-2 game early in the second quarter, but Nantucket answered again. Senior midfielder Ryan Davis scored to make it 5-2 with 8:24 to go in the second and sophomore attacker Nolen Mosscrop scored 1:01 later to make it a 6-2 game, which was the score at halftime.

"The defense was great, but in particular (senior) Hunter (Strojny) and (junior) Owen (Sullivan) in midfield. His defense was awesome,” Aloisi said. “(Senior) Jack (Halik) and (senior) Mike (Culkins) played great defense too in the midfield.”

"In the faceoffs today, we did much better than I actually thought we would," Aloisi continued. "David won a couple and Michael won a couple but you know, I think (Logan) Poulin had maybe one or two fast breaks and that's it. So that was key not giving up those easy ones.”

Aloisi added that he strongly believes Poulin, the star junior for the Warriors who has committed to play lacrosse at the University of Vermont, is the best face-off man on the Cape & Islands – which made his player’s efforts on face-offs all the more impressive in his eyes.

Poulin made it a 6-3 game with 5:20 to go in the third quarter with a laser on the man-advantage but about two and a half minutes later, Halik helped his team respond.

Halik intercepted a pass at midfield and quickly carried it into the offensive zone. He then passed it over to Chambers coming down the middle of the field, who then found O’Keefe streaking down the left side with lots of space. The effort ended with a soft shot, but pretty finish, from O’Keefe to give Nantucket the 7-3 lead with 2:43 left in the third.

The Warriors kept hanging around and scored two quick goals in the fourth quarter to make it 7-5 with 7:25 to go.

"They had a little run there in third,” Aloisi said. “That's what happens. They're a good team. They have the best face-off guy on the Cape so they're never out of it. They shoot from anywhere. They're good fundamentally. They can pass.”

The next two minutes and change were tense for the Whalers, but Davis made an excellent pass to senior Paddy Carroll in front of the net for the easy finish to make it 8-5 with 4:55 to go.

Nauset answered 20 seconds later to make it 8-6 with 4:35 to go, but Mosscrop got the goal right back to make it 9-6 with 3:02 to go in the game.

"Our ride in the first half was awesome and they couldn't get it out of their zone but that fourth, a little part of that was we were tired,” Aloisi said. “They were too, but they picked up a little bit of momentum and that goes a long way. Then that last goal Nolen had was awesome. Colton killing that last 30 seconds and taking a beating was awesome too.”

Mosscrop, O’Keefe, and Chambers each had two goals. Hanlon, Davis, and Carroll each had one. Sophomore goalie Jeremy Jenkinson was sharp per usual – particularly in the second half. He finished the game with 11 saves.

Nantucket will be back in action on Saturday, May 11 when they travel off-island to face Archbishop Williams at 11 a.m.

Girls Lacrosse Beats Nauset

The Nantucket girls lacrosse team won another game on Thursday as they keep on steamrolling through their schedule. They beat the Nauset Warriors on the road 18-6 to improve their record to 13-0.

The Whalers only led 3-2 after one quarter, but their offense came to life in the final three quarters to pull away. Nantucket has now won 12 of their 13 games this season by double digits. They have scored 17 goals or more in nine of those wins.

Nantucket was led by two familiar names. Senior Emerson Pekarcik scored eight goals and added three assists. Senior Bailey Lower scored six goals and added seven assists.

Senior attacker Cydney Mosscrop added three goals as well and sophomore Dylan Damian scored one goal.

Senior goalie Claire Misurelli was fairly busy in net – finishing with 12 saves.

Nantucket’s next game is scheduled for Saturday, May 11 at home against North Reading at 1 p.m.

Boys & Girls Tennis Lose Close Matchups

Both the Nantucket boys & girls tennis teams lost their Thursday matches against Cape Cod Academy 3-2. Below are the results for each team.

BOYS:

First Single: Boyan Kalpazanov lost his match in straight sets 1-6, 0-6.

Second Single: Nik Krastev lost his match in three sets. After losing the first set 3-6, Krastev battled back to win the second set 7-6. He then lost a nailbiter in the third set 6-7.

Third Single: Henry Kathawala won his match in straight sets 6-2, 6-3 and continued his strong season on Thursday despite the overall team defeat.

First Doubles: Soren and Hawkin Edwardes – as known as the Bash Bros – lost their matchup in straight sets 1-6, 4-6.

Second Doubles: Sam Iller and Fuller Holland won their match in straight sets 6-3, 6-1.

The Whalers are now 5-5 this season. They will try to avoid falling below .500 when they host Martha’s Vineyard on Saturday, May 11 at 11:30 a.m.

GIRLS:

First Single: Joan Harris lost her match in straight sets 1-6, 4-6.

Second Single: Lily Chibnik won her match in straight sets 6-1, 6-1.

Third Single: Lauren Cutone lost her match in straight sets 4-6, 5-6.

First Doubles: Chloe Marrero and Hannah Gerardi have been incredibly consistent all year and they continued that success on Thursday in three sets. They lost the first set 5-7, but rallied to win the next two 6-4, 6-3.

Second Doubles: Fiona Keltz and Sutton LeBrecht lost their matchup in straight sets 4-6, 4-6.

The Whalers are now 6-3 this season. They will have a chance to improve to 7-3 this season on Saturday, May 11 at 12:30 p.m. when they travel to Martha’s Vineyard.

SCHEDULE AHEAD:

Friday, May 10:

No Games Scheduled.

Saturday, May 11:

The baseball team will be at home facing O'Bryant at 11 a.m.

The boys tennis team will be at home facing Martha's Vineyard at 11:30 p.m.

The girls lacrosse team will be home against North Reading at 1 p.m.

The boys lacrosse team will be on the road facing Archbishop Williams at 11 a.m.

The girls tennis team will be on the road facing Martha's Vineyard at 12:30 p.m.

The sailing team will sail in a regatta TBA.

Sunday, May 12:

No Games Scheduled