By Allison Goldsmith
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Photo by Jim Powers
Nantucket's Justine Paradis, left, sends theball across the field during Saturday's 8-0 loss at Norwood. The Whalers will play a rematch game on Sunday at home.
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I&M Sports Editor
The girls soccer team was shut out against Norwood on Saturday, 8-0. Friday’s home game against the Mustangs was canceled due to the high winds.
The Whalers fell to 4-5-2 overall on the season (2-1-1 in the Lighthouse Conference). The meeting with Norwood has been rescheduled for this Sunday at 1 p.m. at home. The next scheduled game for the Nantucket squad is Wednesday at home against league foe Cape Cod Academy.
In Norwood on Saturday the Whalers saw an up-tempo style of play from what they are accustomed to from competition on the Cape. The win against Division III Nantucket was the first win on the season for the Mustangs, who hold a record of 1-6-3 overall and 0-6-3 in the Division I Bay State Herget Division.
“That’s the way it goes when you play against a Division I team,” head coach Jorge Rojas said. “We started seeing the ball moving a little faster than we usually see it. They were pretty skillful soccer players against us. It was hard to keep up with the speed of play.”
Playing against the fast-paced style in Norwood was good practice for the league match against Cape Cod Academy next week. Last time the Whalers played the Seahawks, Nantucket struggled to keep up with the competition. This time around and on their home field, Rojas feels they are more prepared.
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“We can play against Cape Cod Academy. I know that my girls can do that,” Rojas said.
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Photo by Jim Powers
Kate MacLellan, leftm on the ball during the second half of the Whalers game against Norwood, Saturday, Oct. 7. |
On Saturday, against Norwood, despite the record, the Whalers knew they were going up against a strong opponent.
“I was looking for quickness, to be able to keep up with them and be able to move the ball a little quicker and we did try to work on that, but we got out-run and out-played for a little while,” Rojas said.
The Mustangs struck for their first goal seven minutes into the game and added three more before the half. In the second half, as the Whalers fell further into the hole, Rojas called a rare time out.
“This was the first time I asked for a time out in my life,” Rojas said. “I asked how they wanted to finish the game. If they wanted to just continue or come out fighting and maybe get a goal and it showed right after the time out. They were getting close to the net and close to a goal,” Rojas said.
Justine Paradis challenged the Mustangs up front and Mandy Cahill played well on both sides of the ball at midfield for the Whalers. Sarah Poor and Shantel Hanniford split time in goal for Nantucket and each played well against the potent Norwood attack, Rojas said.
“I see that these girls competed. We need to get better, we need to work on the ball and we need to encourage everyone to play year round. We need to train in the off season and go to camps and do a lot of things to be up there (at the Division I level),” Rojas said.
Reach Allison Goldsmith at sports@inkym.com
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