North Reading Sports
Lady Hornets down rival Pioneers, 2-1, in home opener
Published in the September 14, 2017 edition By DAN NUNN NORTH READING — Seniors Kirsten Bradley and Karlie Vesey scored a goal a piece to propel the Hornets to a 2-1 home victory over the rival Lynnfield Pioneers in their season opener on Friday afternoon. Junior Alyssa Crugnale was outstanding in her first varsity start with 10 saves. North Reading got on the board early. In the 3rd minute, Bradley took a free kick from the top of the 18 yard box and beat the Lynnfield goalie with a terrific shot into the top of the net. NRHS kept the pressure on and in the 16th minute they scored again. On the play, Vesey received a pass from sophomore Kiley McCarthy just outside the box and as she was falling to the ground blasted a shot past the keeper. The Pioneers refused to go away after the second goal and in the 26th minute they scored a beautiful goal of their own. The Lynnfield player placed the ball just past the fingertips of Crugnale just under the crossbar to cut the lead to 2-1. The action packed first half ended with the Hornets up 2-1. NRHS controlled play in the second half but couldn’t bury their chances. Fortunately Lynnfield never threatened and the Hornets hung on for the 2-1...
read moreField hockey looks to improve under new leadership
Salvin takes over as head coach Published in the September 14, 2017 edition By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI NORTH READING — Andrea Slavin is the new head coach of the North Reading High field hockey team this year. She takes over for Mia Muzio who stepped down after last fall as the Hornets finished 5-14 overall and 3-14 in the Cape Ann League. Slavin is in her sixth year teaching first grade at the Hood School. She is also an experienced coach. She has coached in the CAL before as she was the head coach at Manchester-Essex for three years. Slavin also has been an assistant at the college level as well assisting at Assumption and Merrimack. She played at Bishop Fenwick and, in college, at St. Michael’s. “It will be nice to coach back in the league again,” said Slavin, who applied for the job in May and got the job in June. She met with her squad before school let out and the team started the pre-season at the end of August. Seven seniors graduated from last year’s team but the Hornets do return 12 veterans back this fall. The two captains are Olivia Esposito (midfielder), and Felicia Frammartino (defenseman). Other seniors back are Barbara Burke (forward), Zoe Kennedy (forward), Ally Kirby (midfielder), Emilie Warren (goalie), and Paige Sampson (forward). Abby Carroll (forward), Abby Delano (midfielder), and Erica Burgholzer (defenseman) are the three juniors back. The two 10th-graders back are Maggie Majeski (forward), and Makenna Lamont (midfielder). On Monday afternoon, the Hornets fell to 0-2 overall and in the CAL as they lost at home to Masconomet, 1-0. “They are one of the best teams in our league so I was very happy with the way we played,” said Slavin, despite the defeat. The Chieftains outshot the Hornets on goal, 16-7, as Warren made 15 saves. “Emilie kept us in the game,” pointed out Slavin. In the season opener last Thursday, the Hornets fell, 3-1, at home to Lynnfield. The Pioneers scored first 3:30 into the game. Burke tied it with 13:29 left in the first half as the game was knotted at one at halftime. Lynnfield then scored with 13:30 remaining in the game and then added one more four minutes later. Warren made 14 saves in that game. The Hornets traveled to Amesbury yesterday after press time. North Reading’s next game is Friday at 3:45 pm as they welcome...
read moreHornet spikers 2-1 to start season
Published in the September 14, 2017 edition GEORGETOWN — On Monday afternoon, the North Reading volleyball team improved to 2-1 overall and in the Cape Ann League as they won at Georgetown, 3-0. They won the first game, 25-19, and the second one, 25-9. They then won the final game by a score of 25-12. “They have been around as a program for four years but have already had three different coaches,” explained Hornets head coach Mike Milone. “It is real tough for the kids having that kind of turnover.” Noel Riley led the team in blocks with four and kills with eight. Jenna Forcellese had eight digs while Abby Paine led the team in assists with 12. Katy Larsdale had 18 service points including six aces. Last Friday, in their home opener, the Hornets lost to rival Lynnfield, 3-1. North Reading won the first set, 25-20, but lost the next three sets, 25-17, 25-20 and 25-17 in the final set. “We came out on fire but we struggled to sustain it,” said Milone. “They have a really solid team again this year.” Senior co-captain, Abby D’Orlando, had 21 digs, 16 assists and six service aces as she had a solid game. Forcellese had 21 digs while Larsdale had ten kills. In the season opener on Sept. 6, the Hornets won, 3-0, at Newburyport. The scores were 25-10, 25-9 and 25-17. “This is their first year as a varsity team,” pointed out Milone, about the Cape Ann League newcomers. “They had either a club or junior varsity team last year.” Larsdale had 15 service points while D’Orlando had nine assists. Seren Ventullo had five service aces and three digs while Riley had six kills. NRHS hosted Triton yesterday after press time. The Hornets play their first non-league game on Thursday as they visit Peabody. They then return to CAL action next Monday as Masconomet comes to town. Both matches start at 5:30...
read moreHornet football looking to maintain positive momentum in 2017
Published in the September 7, 2017 edition BY ANDREW MOUNTER NORTH READING — The North Reading football Hornets have achieved some milestones the past two seasons that no North Reading team since the Super Bowl appearances of 1979 and 1980 have accomplished, including going deep in the state playoffs and going all the way to the Division 2A North Final last season. Though they did not win the final to Marblehead, the Hornets did win the Thanksgiving finale against the rival Lynnfield Pioneers in dramatic fashion, 21-20. The question going into the 2017 season is can they win at least eight games for the third straight season and defend their Cape Ann League Kinney Division title? The challenge of the season will be that they will have to do it without the exiting seniors that included the all-time leading rusher in Hornet history, Matt McCarthy, who the offense ran through the last two seasons. McCarthy’s brother CJ, whom was another great rusher, only had the school rushing record for two seasons before Matt smashed it last season. For Head Coach Jeff Wall, they are not replaceable, but the underclassman can learn from their example. “We have been fortunate to have several great running backs in the recent past. Carl Lipani and the McCarthy family had tremendous success for NRHS. They set several records but more importantly they were leaders in the classroom as well,” said Wall. “You don’t replace young men of that caliber. They impacted the program in their own ways. We have a few guys this year that will accept the challenge of carrying the load. We will attempt to have a balanced offense relying on numerous athletes.” One of the few guys that could carry the load this season is returning starting quarterback, senior Kyle Bythrow, who helped with the rushing game last season. The Green and Gold will have its offense out of the spread, installed last season by offensive coordinator, Ed Blum. Wall believes that they can be balanced on offense and not be one-dimensional. “The success of our season will hinge on our ability to have a balanced offense,” said Wall. “We need to have a solid run game coupled with a consistent, short passing game. The athletes have embraced the spread and worked hard in the off season to improve their skills and techniques.” The defense will be run by defensive coordinator, Jim Brown under the 3-4 formation. Key parts that are back are senior captains, Jackson DeAngelo and senior Ryan Edison. Some of the tough opponents this season are Hamilton-Wenham, Newburyport, Triton, and Pentucket before the state playoffs begin; all teams the Hornets have won at least once in the last two years. Maybe the biggest game of them all, no matter what the records going into the game, is the match-up that always happens on Turkey Day every year and that is of course with Lynnfield. This year will be played at Arthur Kenney Field. It all starts tomorrow night on the road against the non-conference opponent, Brighton. Kickoff is at 6:30...
read moreNRHS volleyball set to make a run in the CAL
Published in the September 7, 2017 edition By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI NORTH READING — Last season, the North Reading High volleyball team missed qualifying for the Division 2 state tournament by just one win as they finished 9-10 overall. They were tied for fourth place in the Cape Ann League with Ipswich at 5-7. Two seniors from that squad graduated but eighth-year head coach Mike Milone did welcome back nine veterans when training camp opened a couple of weeks ago. The Hornets will be one of the older teams in the league this year as all nine veterans back are seniors. Abby D’Orlando will be a captain for the second year in a row as the senior is a setter. The other captain is fellow senior, Jenna Forcellese and she is a libero. There are four other starters back and they are all 12th-graders. Abby Paine is a setter while Noel Riley is a middle hitter. Taylor Moore is a right-side hitter while Lauren Gulbicki is a middle hitter. “We have had a great preseason,” stated Milone, who teaches at the Little School. “The kids came in ready and in great shape.” Last week, the Hornets scrimmaged Medford and on Labor Day they went to Greater Lawrence Tech for a jamboree where they faced Methuen, Central Catholic, Winthrop and Wilmington. North Reading will play a 20-game regular season this fall which is one more than last year. There will also be a new team in the CAL this year as Newburyport makes it an eight-team league. The Hornets played at Newburyport on Wednesday in the season opener (results not available at press time). The home opener is this Friday afternoon at 5:30 p.m. as rival Lynnfield comes to town. Next Monday afternoon, also at 5:30 p.m., the Hornets visit...
read moreGirls’ soccer looking to get back to North Finals will lean on seniors during the 2017 season
Published in the September 7, 2017 edition By DAN NUNN NORTH READING — The 2017 Lady Hornets return a handful of players who have been key contributors during North Reading’s three year run as Division 3 North Finalists. A total of six seniors; Kirsten Bradley, Meredith Griffin, Rachel Hill, Jerlin Kaithamattam, Juliette Nadeau and Karlie Vesey return with over 15 seasons of combined varsity experience. The trio of Nadeau, Hill and Vesey, who have been major point producers over the past three seasons, will provide the scoring punch. Bradley will anchor the defense. Griffin and Kaithamattam will be competing with fellow seniors Rachel Foster and Lauren Comeau for either positions on defense or in the midfield. Junior Alyssa Crugnale will have the tall task of replacing two-time CAL player of the year Katerina Hassapis in goal. But Head Coach Sean Killeen knows Crugnale is ready to make a name for herself and is “going to turn a lot of heads this season.” Along with Crugnale, junior midfielders/defenders Gabrielle Barker and Mia DeNofrio are ready to make the jump to varsity. The Hornets will need to showcase their talent to navigate the always tough Cape Ann League. “The CAL is loaded with talented teams that will require our full attention every match. Some of the best D-3 and D-4 schools in the state play in this league,” said Killeen. Killeen went on to say, “The CAL will make it tough for us to make sure we qualify for the tournament. But our expectations are high and everyone is working hard to make sure the success on the field...
read moreWelcome to Boston Gordon Hayward
Published in the August 31, 2017 edition While North Reading and the rest of Celtics Nation patiently wait for the Kyrie Irving-Isaiah Thomas to either be finalized or scrapped, we want to take a moment to formally welcome former Utah Jazz swingman Gordon Hayward to Beantown. Hayward officially signed a four-year contract to bring his talents to the Boston Celtics last month. The signing came 10 days after Hayward announced that he had accepted the Celtics’ offer and agreed to leave Utah. Hayward is joining a team that earned the No. 1 seed in the East last season and reached the conference finals. The versatile forward’s decision to leave Utah for Boston reunites the All-Star with Celtics head coach Brad Stevens. Stevens was just a week or so into his new job as Butler head coach when Hayward was his first recruit to visit. There was an “immediate familiarity” when the Celtics pitched Hayward on the team, he said in a conference call with reporters after signing his four-year deal worth about $128 million. “It brought back memories of when I was being recruited in high school by Coach Brad. This time it’s at the next level,” he said. One of the most coveted free agents of the offseason, the Celtics lured Hayward from the Jazz with a max contract and the chance to rejoin his college coach. At Butler, Stevens and Hayward were together for the first of the Bulldogs’ back-to-back NCAA championship game appearances in 2010. “It’s really an unbelievable thing to be sitting with a guy in your office when he’s 16 or 17 years old, and to again be sitting with him when he’s 27,” Stevens said. The Celtics needed to clear salary cap space to make room for Hayward, which they accomplished by trading guard Avery Bradley to Detroit and then waiving forward Jordan Mickey. “It’s been a long 10 days, hasn’t it?” Celtics basketball boss Danny Ainge said. Stevens said his pitch to Hayward, an All-Star last season for the Jazz who averaged 21.9 points, was more about the future than the past. “I talked about why this transition was so great for me and my family, and also how hard it was to initially make the transition,” Stevens said. “I tried to keep it much more focused on the now than our relationship 10 years ago.” It’s the second straight summer the Celtics have landed a big free agent. Last year, they brought in Al Horford and made a pitch to Kevin Durant, as well. That helped them reach the Eastern Conference finals, where Cleveland eliminated them in five games. The Celtics also had the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, which they traded for the third pick — Duke forward Jayson Tatum — and another first-rounder, likely next year. “I feel like our team is in a better position than last year,” Ainge said. We agree. The Celtics have not a versatile small forward since Celtics legend Paul Pierce was traded to the Brooklyn Nets four years ago. Landing Hayward is not only a coup for the Celtics, but for the Eastern Conference as a whole. This summer has seen West teams load up to try to defeat the defending champion Golden State Warriors, and the vast majority of high-profile...
read moreNRHS preseason schedule
Hornet football scrimmage at North Quincy tomorrow Published in the August 31, 2017 edition NORTH READING — North Reading High School fall sports teams continued to prepare for the upcoming season with practices and scrimmages this week. The girls’ soccer team scrimmaged Wilmington on Tuesday and the football team tuned up against Winchester also on Tuesday, both games occurring after press time. Football, field hockey, volleyball, boys’ and girls’ soccer, and golf will all scrimmage this week and next week. Thursday, August 31 Freshman Football: Scrimmage at Wakefield, 1:30 p.m. Varsity Field Hockey: Jamboree Scrimmage at Manchester-Essex, 3 p.m. Varsity Volleyball: Scrimmage vs. Medford, 3:30 p.m. Varsity Boys’ Soccer: Scrimmage vs. Bedford, 4:30 p.m. JV Boys’ Soccer: Scrimmage vs. Bedford, 4:30 p.m. Varsity Girls’ Soccer: Scrimmage at Stoneham, 5 p.m. JV Girls’ Soccer: Scrimmage at Stoneham, 5 p.m. —– Friday, September 1 Varsity Boys’ Soccer: Scrimmage at Manchester-Essex, 9 a.m. Varsity Football: Scrimmage at North Quincy, 4 p.m. —– Monday, September 4 Varsity Girls’ Soccer: Scrimmage vs. Reading, 5 p.m. JV Girls’ Soccer: Scrimmage vs. Reading, 5 p.m. —– Tuesday, September 5 Varsity Golf: Scrimmage vs. Georgetown, 3:30 p.m. at Hillview...
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