Girls soccer: Sandwich clinches ACL crown

MARSHFIELD — The Sandwich girls soccer team faced the unenviable task of facing a team that was looking for revenge on its own pitch in front of a Homecoming crowd. They responded with a championship effort.

The Blue Knights clinched the Atlantic Coast League title and a berth in the postseason with a 2-1 victory over Marshfield on Friday evening.

Caroline McKenna scored the game-winning goal just past the midway point of the second half as the Blue Knights improved to 9-3-1 overall and 6-0-1 in the ACL. The Rams fall to 5-2 in the league, having lost at Sandwich in the first meeting between the clubs.

"I usually don't get real excited — but I'm excited now," said Sandwich coach Dave DeConto. "I told them before the game that there is no pressure on us. They're at home and they have to win."

Tatum Tropp scored the game's opening goal in the 17th minute, shortly after entering the game, to give the Blue Knights a 1-0 lead. Marshfield pulled even four minutes later and the teams went to the half even at 1.

Sandwich broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute of the second half as Becca Mandy sent a long ball to McKenna, who split a pair of defenders for the ball and then beat the keeper for the goal.

Maggie LeVangie had several stellar saves in net for the Blue Knights to preserve the win while Rachel Lake did an outstanding job of marking the Rams' leading scorer. Liz Wegman and Colleen Macdonald also excelled defensively for Sandwich while Bella Collentro starred in the midfield in place of an injured Rae LaRochelle.

Capenews.net

DAN CROWLEY | Posted 2 days ago

Rae LaRochelle scored twice as the Sandwich High School girls’ soccer team rolled to a 5-3 victory over Nauset Wednesday afternoon, October 8.

Blue Knights 3, Red Raiders 1; After a scoreless first half and a quick 1-1 tie early in the second half, Sandwich pulled away from Barnstable on Monday for a 3-1 non-league win.

Junior center midfielder Bella Collentro scored the Blue Knights final two goals as they improved to 7-3-1, 4-0-1 in the Atlantic Coast League.

Freshman Sarah MacFarland's fifth goal of the season put Sandwich up 1-0 just five minutes into the second half, her shot from down low deflecting off a defender and into the net.

Barnstable's Katie Harrington's breakaway tally two minutes later tied the game at 1-1.

That set up Collentro's tallies, her third and fourth of the season. Her first came from about 18 yards out after a corner kick was cleared her way, the second a shot into the opposite corner from about 22 yards.

Becca Mandy and Collentro played strong games in the midfield, goalie Maggie LeVangie made a couple of big saves in goal and center backs Rachel Lake and Haley Whalen led the defense for Sandwich.

The Red Raiders (2-8-1) got strong play from Angela McLeod, Isabelle Woods and Halle Dennis.

 Dartmouth 2, Sandwich 1: Freshman Sarah MacFarlane scored her fourth goal of the season but the Blue Knights dropped a non-league match in Dartmouth.

MacFarlane notched the game's first goal off a scrum in front of the net to give Sandwich (6-3-1) the lead 10 minutes into the contest.

Casey Good and Julia Phillips answered later in the half to give the Indians a 2-1 lead at the break.

The Blue Knights turned up the pressure and carried the majority of the play in the second half but couldn't get the equalizer.

Bella Colentro dominated the midfield for Sandwich while Tatum Tropp came off the bench and was a factor on the outside.

The Blue Knights travel to Barnstable on Monday before resuming Atlantic Coast League play, hosting Nauset on Wednesday and at Marshfield on Friday. Sandwich is 4-0-1 in the ACL.

Mandy got the scoring started in the fifth minute with a long, looping goal, giving Sandwich a 1-0 halftime lead.

Six minutes into the second half Sarah MacFarland hooked up with McKenna on a cross to the far post to double the lead.

McKenna scored her second on a PK after she was taken down in the penalty area and Mandy rounded out the scoring with a goal from 22-yards out.

Junior Helen Calwell got her first varsity start in net for Sandwich (6-2-1, 4-0-1 ACL), turning aside all six shots she faced.

Freshmen Molly MacFarland (center midfielder) and Sarah Murke (forward) along with sophomore Katie Hughes (outside midfield) played well off the bench for Sandwich in the second half.

Sandwich JV 7, Dennis-Yarmouth 0; the Knifhts began there scoring with just five minutes into the first half when Brittany Eccleston scored from a pass from Kylie O'Gara. Six minutes later Lexis Nelson scored from outside the 18 on a pass from Sarah Sutton.  The Knights continued when Sutton set up Maia DeLuca scored her first of the year.  Autumn Cotter scored unassisted 16 minutes into the second half. Allie Learch scored her first of the season when Cotter crossed the ball to her. Cotter finished off with her second goal of the game.

Sandwich 0, Falmouth 0: In a match featuring contrasting styles, the Blue Knights and Clippers played to a scoreless draw in Atlantic Coast League action in Falmouth.

Kelly Ferreira recorded the shutout in net for Falmouth (4-1-3) while Sandwich (5-2-1, 3-0-1 ACL) keeper Maggie Lavangie didn't allow a goal at her end.

Sweeper Savannah Jensen and back Kaitlin McManus excelled defensively for the Clippers against the speed of the Sandwich forwards while both Maddi Scavotto and Nicole Gonsalves were strong in the midfield.

Senior sweeper Rachel Lake and junior stopper Hailey Whelan were standouts defensively for the Blue Knights. Sandwich had the best scoring chance down the stretch but Caroline McKenna's blast from the top of the 18 rang off the bottom of the crossbar.

Sandwich JV 2, Falmouth 2; the Blue Knights and the Clippers were scoreless at the end of the first half.  The Knights came out strong in the second when Freshmen Brittany Eccleston scored on a pass from Kylie O'Gara.  Eight minutes later Katie Hughes set up Eccleston for her second of the match.

 Sandwich 2, Marshfield 1: The Blue Knights remain undefeated in the Atlantic Coast League following their key win over the Rams in Sandwich.

Sandwich (5-2, 3-0 ACL) needed a goal from Steph Briggs to break the 1-1 deadlock and give the home club the victory. Briggs took a perfect pass from Caroline McKenna and sent it home at the 62nd minute of the game for the 2-1 final.

McKenna tallied the opening goal when she headed a corner kick from Becca Mandy just four minutes into the game.

Marshfield tied it up at the 51-minute mark when Rachel Neuger sent a rocket from 24 yards out into the upper corner.

Sandwich center midfielders Mandy and Becca Collentro were solid and defensive standouts were Liz Wegman and Rachel Lake. Goalie Maggie Lavangie made some huge saves after the Knights had seized the lead.

Sandwich 0, Marshfield 4: The JV Blue Knights ran into a tough Rams team.

By Cape Cod Times

sports@capecodonline.com

NORTH EASTHAM — Bella Collentro scored both goals as the Sandwich Blue Knights girls soccer team knocked off previously unbeaten Nauset 2-1 in key early season Atlantic Coast League contest.

Sandwich improves to 4-2 and 2-0 in the ACL. The Warriors fall to 5-1-1 overall and 1-1 in the league.

The game was a hard-fought, physical affair that featured outstanding defense and clutch plays in front of the goals.

Sandwich struck first when Collentro tallied at the 19-minute mark of the opening half.

The 1-0 advantage lasted just three minutes before the Warriors evened the score on a header by Julia Taylor, converting a feed from Nicole Berg.

The visiting Knights scored the eventual game-winner at the 33-minute mark when Collentro found the back of the net with her second tally.

Playing well defensively for the Knights were Colleen Mcdonald, Rachel Lake, Liz Wegman and Hailey Whalen. Jenny Tulloch starred in defeat.

 Sandwich Blue Knights JV topped Nauset 3-2.  Nauset scored at the 11th minute of the first half and the Blue Knights came back and Molly McFarland scored less than a minute later.  Lexis Nelson delivered a perfect corner kick to McFarland who finished it. with five minutes to go in the game McFarland scored unassisted for her third of the game.

playing well for the Knights were Sarah Sutton, Courtney Ladner, Alli Lerch and Sarah Burke.