ATHOL — The Athol boys soccer team could not overcome a slow start and lost 3-1 to South Hadley, Monday night.
After three days off from soccer the Red Raiders (5-2, 3-2 Schmid) watched as the Tigers put together a three-goal first half.
“I’ll take a lot of the blame for the first 40 minutes,” Athol coach Dave King said. “We were pretty beat up from back-to-back games last week. So I gave them Friday off. They haven’t been around a soccer field in over three days.”
Outside of a couple direct kicks by Angel Rivera, there wasn’t much of an offensive push for the Red Raiders in the first half. Athol keeper Casey Mason was under fire from the South Hadley offense for the entire half and finished the game with eight saves.
“There were a lot of fundamental mistakes,” King said. “Lack of urgency. We made some adjustments.”
One halftime adjustment was moving Bryce King to forward. The move created several quality chances for the Red Raiders, including when King drew a foul in the penalty area.
“It’s a challenge for the other guys to be able to do some of the things (Bryce) did up front,” Dave King said. “For us to be dangerous later on he has to be in the middle of the field keeping possession.”
Rivera scored on the ensuing penalty kick to make it 3-1. Athol’s offense pressed South Hadley for the remainder of the game, dinging the post at one point, but could not get any closer.
The Tigers (5-1, 4-1) got three first-half goals from Jonas Clarke, Liam Joy and Max McCurdy.
“Disappointing game,” Dave King said. “If we were sharp, there might have been a different result.”
Joy’s goal came on a direct kick from just outside the 18, a hard shot to the corner past Mason.
Joy later assisted on McCurdy’s goal that made it 3-0 just before halftime.
Sabis 4, Mahar 3 — The Senators lost their second in a row at home.
Riley Drew scored twice for Mahar (5-2, 4-1 McGrath).
James Temple scored in the first half on a penalty kick, with Drew drawing a foul in the box.
Henry Ndayisaba set up Drew’s second goal to make it 4-3 late in the second half.
Ethan Williams made eight saves.
Mahar 7, Drury 1 — Delaney Parker scored five goals in a road win for the Senators. Parker now has 15 on the season.
Emma Savoy had a goal and an assist for Mahar (6-1, 5-0 Pioneer North), with Lani DeDiego also scoring in the first half.
Tori Tenney and Micalyn Mailloux had assists for the Senators.
Marie Nottleson made four saves, including a stop on a Drury penalty kick.
Mohawk 5, Athol 0 — The boys middle school soccer team got blanked last Wednesday by the Warriors. Cameron Troche and Camren Beauvais played effectively on both ends.
Keene 8, Athol 0 — Aiden Erickson played well in net, but the Red Raiders boys middle school soccer team was shut out on Friday.
Athol 2, Hopkins 0 — Angel Vargas-Castillo scored twice in a win for the boys junior varsity soccer team last Wednesday. Jonah Paulino and Braydon York had the assists. Leading the defense was Logan Parker, Jared Rouleau, Tyler Goodwin and Gabe Gois.
Mahar 2, Hopkins 0 — The Senators junior varsity girls soccer team got goals from Natalie Apteker and Emi Carfagna in a win last Wednesday.
Maddie Blattenberger had the assist on Apteker’s goal, while Carfagna’s second-half goal came on a penalty kick.
Maddison Lloyd registered her fourth shut out in a row, making one save against the Golden Hawks.
Easthampton 2, Mahar 1 — On Friday, the Senators’ JV soccer team controlled possession but came away with a loss.
Shailee Davis scored her first goal for the Senators, assisted by Taylor Soucie.
Lloyd made six saves for Mahar.
Mahar 7, Athol 0 — Cassidy Boutwell and Brynn Adams both scored twice in a win for the Mahar girls middle school soccer team at home on Monday.
Adams added two assists as well for the Senators.
Kayley Murphy, Julia Zani and Carra Fitzgerald (assist) also scored. Mahar’s Astha Bernard added two assists with Megan Parse chipping in with a helper of her own. Baylee Rousseau made two saves for Mahar.
