Pop Warner Roundup
The Everett Pop Warner Crimson Tide Unlimited A team began its journey under the guidance of new Head Coach Cataldo Kidd and his staff with an impressive 26-0 shutout of the West Lynn Rams at the Manning Bowl this past Sunday. Everett started with a 45 yard pick six return by Caleb Suttles for a 6-0 first quarter lead. In the second quarter as West Lynn was moving down field and into the red zone, defensive pressure from the front seven forced a hurried throw which Ervin Deleon picked off and streaked down the sidelines for the second defensive score of the game, much to Defensive Coach Nick Golden’s delight. A toss from Suttles to Gacari Lee, who made a highlight catch, made the score 13-0. Deleon added a one yard plunge to make for a 20-0 bulge at halftime. Kiwani Williams added a 75 yard jaunt behind the second team offensive line in the third quarter for the final tally of 26-0. Elijah Santiago, Adam Faulkner, Christian Delgado and Dajon Sanchez played well on the offensive side of the ball while on defense Mario Sheard, Jordan Roberts and Gennaro Ligocki helped stifle West Lynn” s offense, holding them to under 100 yards total offense.Coach Kidd and his staff, which includes Golden, Chris Spinney, Tony Eason, Eric Bowdridge and Team Mother Ann Marie Kidd, were pleased with the effort the boys made but saw room for improvement. It should be noted that the entire staff is under 28 years of age. Next up is Dracut at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Everett this Sunday. ROLL TIDE!!!!!!!! – Kevin Kidd.
EHS Roundup
EHS boys soccer team
opens with two victories
The Everett High boys soccer team open its season with a pair of impressive victories, defeating Greater Boston League rival Somerville, 4-3, and non-league foe Lawrence, 2-0.
The Somerville triumph was both not as close, and even closer, than the 4-3 final score might indicate. The Crimson Tide took a 1-0 lead at the half and opened up a 3-0 advantage after the intermission. Senior striker Lensfedo Francois, who is a four-year varsity player, reached the back of the Somerville net for the first two markers. The season-opening score was unassisted after a scramble in the box on which Lensfedo was able to deliver a good strike. His second came on a header off a beautiful crossing pass by junior Jan Carlos Ruiz on which Francois, who is the tallest Everett player, out-jumped his opponents.
Sophomore Heitor DaSilva, who was the MVP on the freshman team last season, made it 3-0 with a header off a nice cross from Francois.
Somerville finally got on the board to cut the margin to 3-1, but the Tide kept matters at a three-goal margin when captain Eric Senibaldi, another four year player for Everett, put a nice through-ball past the Somerville defense to senior Raul Ramos, a three-year varsity player, who outraced the Somerville keeper to the ball and neatly chipped it over him and into the net to make it a 4-1 affair with about 10 minutes to go.
However, Somerville refused to throw in the towel and made things more-than-interesting. A quick goal in response made it 4-2. Moments later, EHS keeper Joao Ferrara made what would turn out to be a huge save when he thwarted a Somerville penalty kick. With about a minute to go, Somerville drew within a goal, and from that point applied pressure non-stop until the final sound of the ref’s whistle.
“We played superbly until the final 10 minutes, but then we seemed to let up and allowed Somerville to gather some momentum,” said EHS head coach Oswaldo Constanza. “We deserved to win, but we also were fortunate to come away with a victory.”
The next day the Crimson Tide hosted Lawrence. After a slow start, Francois put Everett on the board midway through the first half with Ramos providing the assist on a nice through-ball. Senior Edson Rodriguez gave the Tide an insurance marker, assisted by Senibaldi, 10 minutes after the intermission for the 2-0 finale. Senior Giovanni Vacquerano and junior captain Carlos Alvarez both had good chances to add to the Everett margin, but hit the post. Ferrarra, who was called upon to make some nice saves, earned the shutout in goal.
“It took us a while to get going, but we played solidly and did what we had to do to win,” said Constanza, whose veteran-laden squad is coming off a fine 11-7 regular season in 2014. However, the Tide were eliminated in the opening round of the state tourney and the memory of that defeat is serving as the inspiration for Constanza’s crew to achieve even greater heights in 2015.
Everett is set to host GBL rival Medford this evening (Wednesday) at Everett Stadium at 7:00 and will entertain non-league foe Methuen Saturday at 1:00.
“The GBL title is up for grabs among all of us,” said Constanza of the upcoming battle for the league crown. “The league should be very well-balanced.”