With a 7-3 win over Cathedral, the Saugus boys soccer team clinched a spot in the state tournament. Jonathan Rodriguez led the way with a hat trick. Juan Lopez, CJ Surrette, Gaspar Jean and Ryan Pugh each added a goal.
“It has been a dream in this program long before I was a player on this team to make it back to the state tournament,” Saugus coach Larry Bolduc said. “Once I saw this team get our first win I saw the skill, the field vision, the soccer IQ to become a high level team. This is one of the best Saugus teams I have seen in a long time and we just had the right pieces to do something special this year.”
BOYS SOCCER
St. Mary’s 5, Malden Catholic 0
Olu George was the star of the afternoon, scoring four goals for the Spartans. Thiago de Oliveira scored the fifth goal on a penalty kick. Ryan Ramsey, Matt Connolly, Chris Garcia and Joseph Thongsythavong each dished assists. Goalie Richie Mateo earned his 10th shutout win.
“Olu played a phenomenal game,” Spartans coach Mike D’Agostino said. “Nolan Perez and Thiago played great. My defense played great in the back for Richie. We had a nice start, led 3-0 in the first half, and that’s what we needed.”
St. Mary’s (15-0) hosts North Reading on Thursday.
Classical 0, Winthrop 0
The Rams played a solid game but couldn’t capitalize despite controlling possession for much of the contest. Dan Cortes made fives saves for the Rams, and defenders Ivan Melara, Chris Zelaya and Albin Asani played well. Classical (4-6-4) will take on Malden Monday.
Essex Tech 2, Lynn Tech 1
Tech’s Jose Zacarias scored on an assist from Greg Aragon.
GIRLS SOCCER
St. Mary’s 6, Mystic Valley 1
There was a little extra motivation for the Spartans Friday afternoon in Malden, as the team won one for captain Mia Nikolakopoulos.
Nikolakopoulos, who missed all of her junior season with a torn ACL, suffered a broken clavicle in the Spartans’ win Wednesday. The senior had successful surgery Friday to repair the broken bone, and is resting at home and doing well, said coach Jim Foley.
“The girls really wanted this one,” Foley added. “We kind of said ‘let’s win this one for Mia.'”
The Spartans offense exploded for six goals, with Susannah Cornell and Kayla Demers both logging two goals and an assist. Gaby Diaz Martinez and Jenna Foley scored as well. Per usual, St. Mary’s got a strong defensive effort from Morgan Mackey and Joslyn Deschenes.
The Spartans (6-6-3) need three points over their final three games to lock up a playoff spot.
“The last two games, we’ve started scoring goals,” Foley said. “We’ve been in every game, but it’s nice to go out and score.”
St. Mary’s hosts Greater Lowell Monday.
English 0, Revere 0
The Bulldogs battled to a scoreless tie at home. Tommi Hill made eight saves in the shutout for English, while Grace Gately and Bridget Sanchez played well on defense. The Bulldogs (3-11-2) get back at it Monday at Salem.
FOOTBALL
Bridgewater-Raynham 20, St. John’s Prep 14
The Prep was forced to play catch-up throughout the night and couldn’t grab a lead as it fell to 3-4 on the season.
Bridgewater-Raynham struck first on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Corey Sullivan to Dan Taylor in the first quarter, and it added to its lead in the second to take a 12-0 advantage into the half.
The Eagles cut into the lead on Aise Pream’s one-yard touchdown run to make it 12-7 in the third, but the Trojans pulled away again with 6:23 left to play to take a 20-7 lead.
St. John’s added a score last as quarterback Matt Crowley found Pream with a 2-yard pass with 3:25 to play.
Everett 44, Malden 0
The Crimson Tide had no trouble shutting down the Golden Tornados to improve to 6-0.
Cath. Memorial 35, Malden Cath. 0
The Lancers dropped to 1-6 on the season with the shutout on the road.
VOLLEYBALL
Hamilton-Wenham 3, Marblehead 1
The Magicians (11-3) dropped the first set, 25-15, before coming back to win the second, 25-21. But the Generals stormed back to take set three, 25-22, before closing out the match with a 25-12 win.
Lizzie Myers had 11 kills and Elisa Garel added another 10 for Marblehead. Izzy Curtin racked up 31 assists, and Mandy Dumais had 17 digs.
Beverly 3, Winthrop 1
Set scores were 25-19, 25-17, 10-25, 25-18. Maddy Cassidy (five aces, eight kills), Katie Noonan (nine kills), Brianna Snow (12 digs), Marianna Ellis (12 digs), Delaney Sprague (two blocks, two kills) and Sydney Wiley (nine digs, one block) all played well for the Panthers.