Whaler Sports Roundup September 29 & 30, 2023

This Whaler sports roundup includes an update on the Whaler football team, who won their first game of the season on Saturday, as well as updates on the field hockey team, volleyball team, and boys soccer team. It also highlights where each team stands following the release of the MIAA's first state tournament power rankings of the fall season Friday morning at 11 a.m.

Football Beats Tech Boston In Nasty Weather Game

It was a rainy and nasty weather game at Vito Capizzo Stadium Saturday afternoon, but a strong second half led by senior captain Carlos Aguilar helped the Whalers beat the Tech Boston Bears 19-6 for Nantucket’s first win of the season.

“The conditions played in our favor for sure,” Whaler head coach Tim Psaradelis said after the game. “We had less turnovers than they did which made a difference. There was a lot of good stuff we saw today in terms of what we are trying to do with the offense but the weather again, for the third week in a row, was throwing us off a little bit. The kids are starting to see what we are trying to coach and connect the dots.”

The Bears jumped out to a quick lead after pouncing on a Whaler fumble on the Whaler’s five-yard line. Tech punched it in from five yards out to take a 6-0 lead with 7:59 to go in the first.

The Whalers were held without a score in the first half. The score remained 6-0 at halftime. Promising freshman defensive back Eli MacIver notably recorded an interception for the Whalers with 3:22 to go in the second quarter.

Aguilar took some snaps at quarterback in the second half after being used solely as a wide receiver to begin the game. He scampered for a 50-yard QB run to begin the third quarter and while the drive didn’t lead to points, it seemed to give the Whalers a much-needed jolt after a sluggish first half.

The Bears got the ball back with just under nine minutes to go in the third, but the Whalers forced a fumble to get the ball back at Tech’s 22-yard line.

Sophomore quarterback Brock Beamish quickly helped the Whalers capitalize on the favorable field position - hitting a wide-open Aguilar for a 20-yard strike in the end zone to make it a 6-6 game.

With 50 seconds left in the third quarter, it was Beamish to Aguilar once again for a 13 yard pick up through the air to bring the Whalers inside Tech’s 10-yard line. Senior captain Angel Cabrera then punched it in from six yards out to give the Whalers a 12-6 lead with 19 seconds left in the third.

Less than two minutes into the fourth quarter, the Whalers found themselves in a 4th and 16 situation just outside the red zone on Tech’s 26 yard line. Nantucket put the ball in the hands of one of their young, promising playmakers - sophomore Arann Hanlon - who ran it in for a touchdown to give Nantucket a 19-6 lead with 10:26 remaining in the game.

“These kids love being out here which is good,” Psaradelis said. “It was just a good team effort all around. Nobody was hanging their head and they were just battling across the board - no matter who was in.”

The defense finished off the game, with junior Brady Tilton snatching an interception at the end of the game to seal it.

The Whalers are now 1-3 this season and their next game will be Saturday, October 7 on the road against Dennis-Yarmouth.

Tip of the cap to Ashley Klatt, who was the ball girl for Nantucket on Saturday in the nasty weather elements - ensuring the offense had a dry football to use before each play.

Photos below by David Creed.

Field Hockey Wins Two Games Over Weekend

The Whaler field hockey team won a pair of games over the weekend – improving their record to 4-2-2 this season.

Their weekend featured two road games, which presented the team with an opportunity to partake in a bonding experience while staying off island overnight in between games.

Their first game was against the Sturgis East Storm, which Nantucket handily won 4-0. Lily Remick, Suz Peraner (x2), and Caroline Collette were the goal scorers.

The second game was against the Seekonk Warriors. The Whalers scored the game’s lone goal, which came off the stick of Collette to win 1-0.

The defense led by Aubrey Connors, Mayson Lower, Sophia Yelverton, and Marin Mooney continues to be a strength with Shelbi Harimon in net. Through eight games, the Whalers have shutout the opposing team in six of those matchups. They have not allowed a goal in six games – when Nantucket lost to the Monomoy Sharks 6-1 on September 13.

The Whalers came in as the #10 seed in the first MIAA Div. 4 state tournament bracket, which came out on Friday. They will look to continue their strong start to the season on Monday, October 2 when they travel to Falmouth to take on the Clippers at 3:30 p.m.

Volleyball Back In Win Column Following Win Over Sturgis West

The Whaler volleyball team was in need of a win entering Friday’s road matchup with the Sturgis West Navigators – having lost two in a row after beginning the season with a 5-1 record.

Nantucket won the match in straight sets to improve to 6-3. They were led by Yahely Del Rosario Gomez, who finished the match with 24 assists; Chloe Marrero, who had a team-high 10 kills; and Vicky Todorova, who had 15 assists.

Nantucket is currently ranked as the #8 team in the MIAA’s Div. 4 state tournament bracket and the Whalers will hope to improve to 7-3 when they travel to Falmouth on Wednesday, October 4 for a 3:30 p.m. matchup with the Clippers.

Boys Soccer Drops Road Matchup To Barnstable

The Whaler boys soccer team had been on a roll entering Saturday’s late morning matchup with the Barnstable Red Hawks. Nantucket was winners of three straight matches and boasted a 4-2-2 record through their first eight games.

But the Red Hawks got the most of the Whalers over the weekend, defeating them 3-1.

The Whalers are currently the #14 team in the MIAA’s Div. 4 state tournament bracket and will have an opportunity to get back in the win column on Tuesday, October 3 when they host the Monomoy Sharks at 4 p.m.

SCHEDULE AHEAD:

Monday, October 2:

The field hockey team will be on the road taking on the Falmouth Clippers at 3:30 p.m.

The golf team will be on the road taking on the Sturgis West Navigators at 3:45 p.m.

Tuesday, October 3:

The golf team will be at home facing the Rising Tide Herons at 3:45 p.m.

The boys and girls cross country teams will be at home running against the Herons at 4 p.m.

The boys soccer team will be at home facing the Monomoy Sharks at 4 p.m.

The girls soccer team will be on the road facing the Sharks at 4 p.m.

For more sports content, follow our Current Sports Instagram page here. You can follow Current Sports photographer Chris Tran here.