Lowell Excessive Faculty’s boys soccer group sits 10-0-0 halfway via the autumn season.
“Our key has been a robust goalie,” mentioned Lowell coach Invoice Bettencourt. “But in addition, we play as an entire group. We’re gelling collectively as a group. We’re enjoying effectively as a group, and we’re enjoying one of the best soccer that we will.”
Behind Ikaro Da Silva in internet, the Crimson Raiders have surged to the highest of the MIAA statewide energy rankings, now second total with a group score of three.4548. The junior keeper has registered six shutouts.
In the meantime, Lowell has capitalized on its offensive alternatives, with contributors like Davi DeSouza (seven targets, 5 assists), Ilembo Kiza (seven targets, 4 assists), Paul Tempo Jr. (5 targets, two assists) and Alexander Garcia (4 targets, two assists) main the cost.
“I feel the important thing to protecting this momentum going is to maintain constructing off all of the chemistry now we have,” Garcia mentioned. “To not get into our personal heads. We now have to be the group now we have been all season.”
The Crimson Raiders have outscored foes 32-6, with wins over perennial powerhouses corresponding to Westford Academy and Brockton.
All of the sudden, a Div. 1 crown doesn’t really feel prefer it’s too far out of the realm of chance.
“It could imply a lot,” Garcia mentioned. “To carry (a championship) to Lowell? I don’t know if that’s occurred in (college) historical past, in any sport. It could be very pleasurable, a life-changing second I’d assume.”
Bettencourt is trying to preserve his group grounded as he and his group chase the final word type of future.
“We have to compete as a group, the best way now we have been,” Bettencourt mentioned. “We don’t need to get ourselves too excited, as a result of we haven’t received something but. If we do this, we can be OK.”
While you play in a soccer division just like the MVC, nothing is assured. Lowell may need one of many extra horrifying league schedules to take care of as the ultimate weeks unfold.
“Oh, we’re going to have a (lot to battle),” chuckled Bettencourt. “We’re going to have Central Catholic, North Andover, Chelmsford, Billerica, Peabody, Westford (Academy once more). These are all powerful groups. Don’t neglect, now we have Tewksbury too. We now have a troublesome schedule now for the remainder of the season.”
Scituate ladies stay unbeaten
The Scituate Sailors have cruised via a really tough Patriot League schedule thus far, nonetheless undefeated at 8-0-1, and second-year coach Matt Jones is trying to preserve the newfound momentum rolling.
“I truthfully wished to discover a option to affect my group,” Jones mentioned. “Soccer is likely one of the issues I’ve a giant ardour for. Hopefully, I might create an setting that was a optimistic setting, however a aggressive one. I’ve used soccer as that car to sort of accomplish that.”
Actually looks like it. Scituate reached the Div. 2 Spherical of 16 final fall, earlier than faltering to eventual state champion Notre Dame (Hingham). The playoff run proved to be a key stepping stone. Led by a Catholic College commit in heart midfielder Cici Griffin, Scituate has surged to the forefront of the state energy rankings, now sixth total with a score of 4.4152.
“I feel it was undoubtedly the truth that we simply labored actually arduous this summer time,” Griffin mentioned. “I didn’t assume we had any enormous expectations entering into, however we sort of clicked as a group. It was one thing the place we simply took it game-by-game, saved that mindset. It simply sort of labored. We’ve been protecting that good angle, and placing 100% in each sport.”
The Sailors have surrendered simply three targets all season. In a Sept. 26 sport towards fifth-ranked Duxbury, they posted a vital 2-0 victory, then knocked off two extra Patriot League rivals the next week, with 1-0 wins over Hanover and Whitman-Hanson. The Sailors have had a robust presence in internet with Molly Quirk.
“I feel it’s about specializing in our group chemistry,” Griffin mentioned. “Not what our opponent is. I feel it’s about how we will enhance, what we will do, as a substitute of what different groups are getting at factors. Simply taking it game-by-game.”
The trail again to the Div. 2 match is suffering from challenges, together with a rematch of final season’s playoff bout with Notre Dame Oct. 11.
“Truthfully, I’m probably not positive (once we’ve had a begin like this),” laughed Jones. “We’ve simply had the motto to go game-by-game. Simply fear about what we will management, and get higher on a regular basis. I feel that’s what we’ve been targeted at.”