Sports Roundup: Boys Soccer, Volleyball Earn Road Victories
David Creed •
This Whaler sports roundup includes an update on the boys soccer team following a road victory to kick off their season, the volleyball team following a win in their first match of the fall, the golf team following a road victory, the field hockey and girls soccer teams following home defeats to Falmouth, and the cross country team following a meet on the Cape.
Boys Soccer Scores Four Goals To Beat Falmouth In Season Opener
The Whaler boys soccer team began their 2026 fall season on the road against the defending league champions – the Falmouth Clippers – and won 4-2 behind four different goal scorers.
Raakin Brannigan kicked things off with a goal from far out off an assist from Calvin Guevara to make it 1-0 Nantucket. Aldo Lemus and Calvin Guevara also scored in the first half to help the Whalers take a 3-1 lead into halftime.
“Much of the second half was a stalemate,” Whaler head coach Rich Brannigan II said. “Though in the 72nd minute Falmouth brought the game to within one goal.”
While Falmouth cut Nantucket’s lead to one goal with around 20 minutes left in the match, Stoyan Popov – entering his junior season following a 21 goal campaign last fall – sealed the game for Nantucket with his first goal of the season.
The Whalers will now travel to Martha’s Vineyard on Saturday, September 12th for a 1 p.m. match.
Volleyball Beats Nauset In Five Sets
The Whaler volleyball team is looking to bounce back following a five-win season last fall, and they got off to a good start this year to begin that journey by beating the Nauset Warriors in a five-set thriller over on the Cape Wednesday afternoon.
The sets were as followed:
25-15 Nauset
25-21 Nantucket
25-23 Nantucket
25-22 Nauset
15-13 Nantucket
Cariela Acosta led Nantucket with four aces. Senior captain Viki Bozhkova led the Whalers with 14 kills while Quinn Canty finished with seven. Julie Pires and Bessie Aguilar each had four kills. Canty added a team-high three blocks.
Nantucket will look to improve to 2-0 on Monday, September 14th when they host St. John Paul II at 4 p.m.
Golf Improves To 2-2 Following Win Over Sturgis East
While nearly every Whaler sports team begins regular season play this week, the Whaler golf team is already four games into their regular season. They lost to St. John Paul II at home 247-242 on Wednesday and beat Sturgis East 268-294 on Thursday. They are now 2-1 in league play.
Below are the scores from the Whaler’s win on Thursday:
Paxton Fitch: 40
Lucien Silva: 42
Emil Ivanov: 43
Alex Horton: 44
Sammy Lucas: 45
Hunter Bistany: 48
Nantucket will be back in action on Tuesday, September 15th when they travel to play Rising Tide Charter Public School at 4 p.m. at the Village Links Golf Course.
Below are some photos from Wednesday's match against SJP taken by Chris Tran.
Field Hockey, Girls Soccer Lose To Falmouth At Home
The Whaler field hockey and girls soccer teams were both at home to begin their 2026 season with matchups against the Falmouth Clippers. Both teams lost 4-1. Rowan Paul scored field hockey’s lone goal on a tipped shot made by Maddie Boulter. Harper LeBrecht scored on a gorgeous shot far side for the girls soccer team.
Both teams will be back in action on Saturday, September 12th on the road against Martha’s Vineyard. The girls soccer team will play at 11 a.m. and the field hockey team will play at 12:45 p.m.
For more photos from both games on Thursday, check out our post on the Nantucket Current Sports Instagram Page.
Cross Country Takes On Sturgis West
The Whaler Cross Country was on the road against Sturgis East and Sturgis West. The boys beat West 18-43 and East 20-39. The girls lost to West 34-23 and East 41-19. Grace Hanlon ran a 21:49 while Brian Kimball ran a 18:29.
Nantucket’s next meet will be on Saturday, September 12th on the road against Martha’s Vineyard at 12:45 p.m.
SCHEDULE AHEAD:
Friday, September 11th:
There are no games scheduled for this date.
Saturday, September 12th:
The football team will be at home to begin their season against East Bridgewater at 2 p.m.
The girls soccer team will be on the road playing Martha’s Vineyard at 11 a.m.
The girls cross country team will be on the road for a meet against Martha’s Vineyard at 12:45 p.m.
The field hockey team will be on the road playing Martha’s Vineyard at 12:45 p.m.
The boys soccer team will be on the road playing Martha’s Vineyard at 1 p.m.
The boys cross country team will be on the road for a meet against Martha’s Vineyard at 1:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 13th:
There are no games scheduled for this date.
For more photos, information, and updates related to Nantucket High School Sports, follow our Nantucket Current Sports Instagram Page here.