Girls soccer.htm

LYNN -- In the final regular-season game for the Bulldogs and the Rams, English squeaked out a 1-0 win at Manning Field. Prior to the game, both teams honored their seniors with flowers and balloons. English honored seniors Sheila George and captain Kristi Rebidue, while Classical honored seniors Amanda Stevens, Allison Burggren, Kristina Tsolias, Kelsey Ylonen, Samantha Barker and tri-captains Bryanna Connolly, Courtney Sullivan and Jillian Reddy.

English, under the leadership of coach Ed McNeil, brought a 2-12-3 record into the game. He said, "This is our biggest game. We would like to finish on a high note with a win."

Classical, with Marcy Durgin in charge, had a 1-15-1 record and was looking for a win. She said, "It would be nice to win it for the seniors."

Both sides played excellent soccer with keepers Courtney Sullivan of Classical and Brittany Goulet of English both having outstanding games. The entire game came down to one play with thirty seconds remaining in the first half. Junior Devon Robinson of English intercepted a clearing pass in the Classical area and fired a 25-yard shot that eluded Ram keeper Sullivan to the top far corner. That made the score English 1, Classical 0. This should have been a devastating blow to the Classical players.

However, Durgin worked miracles with the team as it came out for the second half all fired up and ready to play. McNeil, though, was working the same magic with the Bulldogs. The forty minutes of the second half flew by as the Rams struggled to tie up the game and the Bulldogs were hanging on to their slim one-goal lead. The Ram attack was led by Connolly, while stalwart English was led by freshman sweeper Shawna Henry. The second half ended as it had started, with English on top 1-0.

English's record moved to 3-12-3 while Classical dropped to 1-16-1.

McNeil was very pleased with the win and said, "We are looking forward to next year with twenty-two experienced players with a lot of game time."

Durgin was disappointed with the loss, but not with her players. She said, "I am so proud of the girls. They never gave up and played every game right to the end. I am especially proud of my three captains, Jillian Reddy (injured for most of the season), Courtney Sullivan and Bryanna Connolly."

English and Classical both have players who participated in the North-South all-star game played at Manning Field on Sunday.

Representing English were senior captain Rebidue, sophomore keeper Goulet, who had six shutouts, and leading scorer sophomore Megan Forti. Representing Classical were senior keeper Sullivan and sophomore Kelly Deveney.

Peabody 6, Classical 0

At Peabody, Courtney Sullivan (18 saves) had another strong game in net despite the score. It was senior night in Peabody and the Tanners not only recognized their own seniors, but they also presented carnations to the graduating Classical players.

"They showed they're a classy team and I wish them well," Classical coach Marcy Durgin said "I think they'll go deep in the tournament."

Salem 6,Classical 0

At Manning Field, Rams (1-12-2) keeper Courtney Sullivan had 17 saves and Amanda Stevens played well at forward.

Beverly 4, Classical 1

At Beverly, junior Danielle Jesoraldo scored for the Rams with the assist going to freshman Christine Francois. Katie Fitzgerald and Fallon Gaudet all played well despite the loss. Classical is 1-11-2.

Revere 1, Classical 0

The Rams, 1-10-2, "didn't play our game," said coach Marci Durgin.
Still, she wanted to credit sweeper Kelly Deveney and midfielder Nikki Kourembanas for playing well.
Classical plays Thursday at Beverly.

The Classical High girls soccer team has struggled this season, but the Rams finally cracked the win column Thursday, defeating Gloucester, 2-0, at Gloucester.

Senior Courtney Sullivan was immense in net for the Rams, making 19 saves and picking up her first shutout of the season. Freshman Christine Francois also wore the hero's hat, scoring a goal and assisting on another.

Francois scored Classical's first goal on a free kick that found the top of the net in the first half. Jessie Carredano supplied an insurance goal when she scored off a Francois corner kick.

"Every game she gets better and better," Classical coach Marcy Durgin said about Francois, adding that Sullivan was getting to everything that came her way.

"Anything that came inside the 18 was hers," Durgin said.

At Manning Field, the Rams, who were without four starters due to injuries and other commitments, had a rough outing. Winthrop led 6-0 by the half with Julie Dowson (3 goals) and Nikki Dominico and Vanessa Caruccio (2 goals each) doing the bulk of the damage. Courtney Finn also scored for the Vikings (4-2-2). Classical (0-3-2) plays Gloucester Thursday and Winthrop faces Mt. Alvernia today.

LYNN -- To many people, the Super Bowl or the World Series is the ultimate in sports; to the Lynn soccer community it is the Classical-English matches.

Records mean nothing. Anyone who has played in these games remembers everything that ever happened, even if it was 20 years ago.

Monday night at Manning Field, both games finished in ties. The girls opened the festivities in the 4 p.m. game and played to a 1-1 tie. Both teams feature outstanding keepers, senior co-captain Courtney Sullivan for Classical and sophomore Brittany Goulet for English. The score at halftime was 0-0 because the defenders of both teams stuffed any opportunities that the other team had. The defenders for English are Marina Biondi, Maria Beaulieu, Maura Coyle and freshman Shawna Henry at sweeper. Henry, more than anyone else on the Bulldogs team, kept the Ram strikers off the board.

For Classical, Katie Fitzgerald, Jillian Adams and Kelly Devaney shut down Kristi Rebidue and Megan Forti.

The second half opened with the same intensity by both teams. This lasted until the 50th minute when co-captain Bryanna Connolly collected a pass outside the top right corner of the area and lofted a shot high over the keeper's head into the left corner. This was the first and only time that she was left unmarked in the game, and she came through with the go-ahead goal. Eight minutes later, co-captain/midfielder Jillian Reddy made an attack down the right wing only to be taken down in the area for a penalty shot. Reddy had to be removed from the game due to an injured ankle in the collision. Connolly took the PK and missed low and just outside the left post. The score remained 1-0 in favor of the Rams.

The frantic pace continued until the 78th minute, just 2 minutes from the end. Jenna Henry, the English striker, was taken down in the area and the referee awarded English a penalty shot. The Bulldogs' top shooter, Forti, calmly drilled the ball low left to tie the game at 1-1. The game ended with both teams leaving everything they had out on the field.

English coach Ed McNeil, whose team's record now goes to 1-5-1 (0-4-1 NEC), said, "We dominated the play and had the most chances to score, but the ball didn't go in." He continued, "We are 1-0-1 with Classical this year. Our biggest game will be Oct. 27, the rematch."

Classical coach Marcy Durgin was disappointed, being only 2 minutes from her team's first win. She said, "We will continue to work harder to get the first win. We need it."

Both teams play in a tripleheader Wednesday at Manning Field: St. Mary's-Arlington Catholic in the first game, Classical-Saugus at 5:15 and English-Marblehead at 7:30.

Thursday, 9/20/07 Peabody 7, Classical 1

At Manning Field, Classical's Bryanna Connolly scored with 13 minutes remaining, but it barely made a ding in the score. Peabody led 5-0 at the half and 6-0 when Connolly found the net. The Tanners (4-0) had seven different people score: Erika DiGiacomo, Emily Manoogian, Amanda Lowry, Alyssa Manoogian, Lauren Ward, Kathleen Dolan and Lindsey Elwell.

Salem keeper Kristin Wyke (1 save) picked up the shutout.

Salem is 2-2 and Classical is 0-4-1.

Friday, 9/14/07 Beverly 2, Classical 0

At Hood Park, the Panthers scored 23 minutes into the game and again at the 63rd minute. Courtney Sullivan (10 saves) was in net for the Rams. Sweeper Kelly Deveney played well.

LYNN -- Classical and English battled in the girls consolation game of the Lynn City Tourney. English won 4-0. All money raised (over $4,000) went directly to the Special Olympics. Everything was donated, from the food to the trophies to the referees working for no fee.

Because the field temperature at game time approached 140 degrees, it was decided to play the game in quarters so the players could get water and a quick break.

Classical came in with a 0-1-1 record, after losing Tuesday in the tourney and tying Revere 3-3.

English was 0-2-0, also losing in the tourney and then losing its opening NEC game to Salem 5-1.

The game was played at a high rate of speed despite the hot conditions. English opened the scoring at the thirty-one-minute mark when Lindsey Ray took a pass from Lauren Hinkle and Cara Crowley on the right wing and beat Ram keeper Courtney Sullivan to the short side.

The second half was only five minutes old when sophomore Megan Forti took a dead-ball kick from 35 yards out and put it in over the keeper's head. This upped the score in English's favor, 2-0. Ten minutes later, Marina Biondi repeated the shot with the ball sailing high into the short-side corner.

English finished the scoring when Devon Robinson carried the ball down the right wing and passed it through the crease, where Stephanie Brault had an easy tap-in to make the score Bulldogs 4, Rams 0.

The tourney presented an award to the MVP on each team, as selected by the respective head coaches. The Classical MVP was Kelly Deveney and the English MVP was Forti.

Classical's Kristina Tsolias and Pope John's Fiona Lunney try to gain an advantage during action last night at the Lynn City Soccer Tournament. ITEM PHOTO / REBA M. SALDANHA

LYNN -- The Classical girls faced off against the Pope John Tigers from Everett in the second game in the Lynn Soccer Tourney.

Second year Classical coach Marcy Durgin was looking to start off the year right, led by her three captains, Jillian Reddy, Courtney Sullivan and Bryanna Connolly. However, at the end, the Tigers emerged with the win, 1-0.

Coach Durgin said before the game, "we have a very young group of defenders ( 1 junior, 2 sophomores and 1 freshman) that will learn as they get more game experience."

The defense is backboned by keeper Courtney Sullivan who has been in the net for four years.

This was as exciting as the first game that saw seven goals scored.

For the first 17 minutes the game was dead even when the quick Pope John forwards got a break from mid-field on the slower Ram defenders. Sophomore Ashley Orozco slipped a pass from senior captain Jacki Carlson under the diving Classical keeper into the bottom left corner of the net.

The rest of the first half was played between the penalty areas with neither team getting any outstanding chances to score. The half ended with Pope John in the lead 1-0.

The second half was a contrast in styles, Classical throwing caution to the wind and attacking at every opportunity while Pope John was trying to hold on to its one goal lead. As Classical added more players to the attack, Pope John brought more players back to play defense. It turned the game into a kick and run game. The contest was whether Classical would score and force a penalty kick shootout to determine the winner or would the clock run out and make the Pope John Tigers the winner. This time the clock won. Pope John will play St. Mary's on Saturday at 5:00 in the Championship game. Classical will take on long-standing cross-town rivals, the Bulldogs from English in a 1:00 game. Classical opens its NEC season on Friday with at game in Revere.

"We have 15 freshmen and sophomores who got a lot of playing time and experience this year," he said. "We hope to improve on it next year."

"Our underclassmen are being tested against some of the best teams in the North," he said. "They are getting better with every game."

Classical coach Marcy Durgin, who took over the head coaching job for her sister, Maura, after serving as her assistant for many years, is also dealing with low numbers. Durgin said she has about 23 players, 20 of them who have been showing up for practice regularly.

"The junior varsity team is a feeder program, so that concerns me for the future," Durgin said.

Most of Durgin's players are juniors and seniors, with only one freshman showing up so far. The senior class features captains Paulina Koutroubis, a forward, and sweeper Allison Donovan. Jill Magner, a midfielder and three-year varsity player; defender Vanessa Francois, a four-year varsity player, and Denielle Harris, a forward, round out the list of returning seniors.

Goalie Courtney Sullivan will return for her third year in net. Fellow juniors Allison Burggren, Laura McLaughlin and Samantha Barker will also be getting the call, as will Bryanna Connolly, Morgan Murphy, Kelsey Ylonen, Jillian Reddy, Ashley D'Entremont and Rocio Funez.

The sophomore class will feature Nikki Kourembanas, Katie Fitzgerald and Danielle Jesoraldo while Abby Field is the lone freshman.

"My numbers are down, but the kids are working really hard," Durgin said. "They know each of them has a role to fill and that I'm going to rely on each one of them."

Durgin's assistant is Michael Zukowski, who coached the junior varsity for the last five years. Classical will open next Tuesday against St. Mary's.

LYNN CLASSICAL GIRLS SOCCER 2007

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VANESSA FRANCOIS KRISTINA BOEHM