UPDATED, Feb. 29: The Arlington High boys’ hockey team lost to Hingham, 4-2, in the MIAA tourney on Monday. Feb. 29, at the Chelmsford Forum. Read The Globe story >>
For girls’ hockey, Division 1 in the MIAA tourney, Arlington Catholic (17-1-1) draws the top seed, followed by Austin Prep (18-2-0), Needham (16-1-4), Billerica (14-3-3) and Woburn (17-5-0). At No. 10 is Arlington (13-6-1). Boston Herald look-ahead >>
On Wed., March 2, at 6 p.m., in the preliminary round, Boston Latin faces Arlington at the Burns Arena.
To be announced in the first round, Arlington Catholic plays the Masconomet/Barnstable winner, and Beverly/Danvers/Ipswich plays the Arlington/Boston Latin winner.
MIAA hockey: AHS ranked No. 7 in Super 8
Super 8 selections took place this morning, and Arlington High was ranked No. 7. See all 10 here >>
Before the picks, a Globe writer took a whack at the net with his predictions. Among his bubble teams: No. 8 seed — Arlington (15-3-3).
Sam Evers writes, “Arlington is 9-0-1 over their last 10 against the best of the best in the Middlesex League. A 2-1 victory over Hingham last Sunday likely caught the eyes of a few MIAA members.
“They are the third best public school team in the state, and their goalie, sophomore Jake Pinard, has proven he can keep the puck out of the net against a high volume of shots. In the Hingham win, Pinard stopped 29 of the 30 shots on goal. The Spy Ponders are deserving of a play-in chance.”
Among five boys’ basketball teams The Globe says to watch in the MIAA tourney:
■ Arlington (18-4; D2 North): A year after falling in the sectional final, the Spy Ponders could make another run with junior guard Colin McNamara.
Among five girls’ basketball teams to watch in the MIAA tourney:
■ Arlington Catholic (15-4; D2 North): The Cougars will be a tough out once again with standouts Demi Fogarty and Marie Gaffney.
MIAA basketball pairings
In MIAA basketball tournament pairings, among the girls, Arlington (11-9) is seeded 13th.
Thursday, March 3 — First round: Arlington at Revere, 7:30.
In Division 2 North, Arlington Catholic (15-4) is seeded third.
Thursday, March 3 — First round: Wakefield vs. Arlington Catholic at Woburn High School, Woburn, 7.
Among the boys’ teams, in Division 2 North, Arlington (16-4) is seeded third.
Tuesday, March 1 — First round: Lynn Classical at Arlington, 7.
In Division 2 North, Arlington Catholic (9-12) is seeded 13th.
Tuesday, March 1 — First round: Arlington Catholic at Weston, 7.
A look at Ponders’ remarkable winter
Melissa Dlugolecki, Arlington High athletics director, provided a winter-season update on Feb. 26.
The last game of the regular season took place Feb. 25, and tournament play begins Tuesday, March 1. Her report:
“Overall, our winter teams ended 71-45-5! Which is an incredible reflection of the work and commitment and support of our coaches, athletes and community.
“Prior to the season, our registration numbers were up nearly 30% from last winter! During the season, teams completed various community service projects. Among these, they collaborated to put together our first #BeGrayt! event involving members from all winter sports.
“Donations were collected for the Arlington food pantry, gray was in full force among fans and there were youth, alumni and community celebrations. Additionally, this season, games were played in honor Katherine Wall and Catherine Malatetsa, raising money for their scholarships. As you will see below, accomplishments prevailed on the field as well, with many tournament bound teams, individuals qualifying for Nationals and even multiple school records broken.
“Boys’ basketball: After graduating 11 seniors, the boys’ basketball team wasn’t sure what to expect, but they finished the season impressively at 18-4, seeded 3rd in the state. They will host a home playoff game vs. Lynn Classical, Tuesday, March 1, at 7 p.m.
“Coach John Bowler accomplished his 100th win as head coach here and his team boasts a 26-home-game winning streak.
“Girls’ basketball: The team finished the season 11-9, earning the 13 seed in the state tournament, facing Revere away Thursday, March 3, at 7:30 p.m.
“The team regularly hosted youth athletes during halftime of their games, put on youth clinics and camps and in conjunction with the Arlington Youth Health and Safety Coalition, helped facilitate the ‘Purple Project’ game, a Chris Herren movement designed to reduce youth substance abuse.
“Gymnastics: We have a state champion! Rachel Benoit not only was the league champion, she qualified for the New England’s and Nationals. Even more exciting, Rachel placed first in the state on the bars, making her the state champion for this event. As a team, gymnastics had their strongest season in the last few years, finishing 4-5 with 3 state qualifiers and they broke the AHS school record, earning a total team score of 140.15 (previously 137.65)
“Boys’ hockey: The team concluded its regular season play at 15-3-3, but most promising is that it won its last nine games and is ready for tournament. The team has been under Super 8 consideration and last weekend, played at Northeastern vs. Hingham in the Catherine Malatesta scholarship game. Tournament seedings are announced Feb. 27, and all rounds will be played at neutral sites.
“Girls’ hockey: The team finished 14-5-2, making it one of the strongest records in the past few years. It qualified for the state tournament, and though the official seedings come out Feb. 27, we anticipate hosting the first game on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Its “We Got Wall” event was an incredibly successful kickoff for the Katherine Wall Scholarship.
“Boys’ indoor track: Although this team record was 1-4, the individual performances continue to improve tremendously as they push toward the tipping point of arranging individual scores for the team win. Faolan Coogan-Pluck broke the school record during the Middlesex League meet for the 600-meter, with a time of 126.01, in Divisionals he broke his own record running a 125.19. Freshman Ryan Oosting ran the 2-mile in 9:51.25, qualifying for Nationals.
“Girls’ indoor track: Similarly to the boys indoor program, the girls meets have concluded with scores on the brink of wins, as individual performances continue to improve. Junior Insa Mannstandt ran a 2:58.7 in the 1000m and qualified for Nationals. Yet another school record was broken this winter by the girls 4×800 relay team. Kendra Griesman, Emma Maxtutis, Annie Cave and Insa Mannstandt ran a time of 10:11.46.
“Wrestling: After graduating two state champions and a large senior class, the wrestling program knew its focus would be on filling the voids of their alumni. The team did a great job and fell just shy of an impressive .500 record, at 8-10. Junior Matt Pickett placed 8th in the state.”
Hockey: AC girls win again; AHS boys take Burns classic
The Arlington High boys’ hockey team skated past Weymouth in the final of the Ed Burns Classic, 5-4, on Wednesday, Feb. 24. Weymouth fell to 5-8-3, and the Ponders rose to 15-3-3.
The top-ranked Arlington Catholic girls’ hockey team kept winning, improving to 18-1-1, as the Cougars blanked Reading, 3-0.
The Boston Herald reported that Jen Curran got her first varsity goal, Jasmine Mucci picked up her 11th shutout of the season and Arlington Catholic clinched the top seed in Division 1, in topping defending state champion Reading. Cougars coach Maggie Taverna earned her 100th career victory, as Nicole Amato and Eileen Flynn added goals for AC.
Basketball: Ponders run Medford off its own court
The Arlington High boys’ basketball improved its tourney-bound record to 18-4, crushing 2-15 Medford, 75-49, on Monday, Feb. 22, at Medford.
Junior guard Colin McNamara scored 28 points and dished seven assists, and sophomore guard Dom Black chipped in 18 points and nine assists for the Spy Ponders.
Hockey: Pinard MVP of Malatesta benefit; AC girls still No. 1
An estimated 400 people were in the crowd at Matthews Arena as Ponder hockey beat Hingham, 2-1, in a match to honor Catherine Malatesta, an Arlington High School student who lost her battle with cancer last summer. Ticket sales went toward the fund in her name.
Seventh-ranked AHS seeking a spot in the upcoming tournament. Read the Herald’s thoughts about the Super 8 >>
Jack Pinard, an Arlington sophomore, held off a strong Hingham attack on Sunday, Feb. 21, with 29 saves. Pinard was named MVP, The Globe reported.
The match had its link with the past: Arlington coach John Messuri was a line mate of Catherine’s father, Gregg, when they played for the Ponders in the 1980s, The Globe said.
Arlington (14-3-3), which hasn’t lost in eight games, struggled in the early going, picking up three minor penalties and allowing 12 shots on goalie Pinard. Hingham (10-8-3), 16th ranked, failed to take advantage.
The Spy Ponders eventually got after it in the second period, with a shorthanded, unassisted goal by Peter Scheschareg. The breakaway goal came with less than a minute left in the period.
A goal with 7:24 expired in the third period by Kevin Ouellette made it 2-0. The forward started behind his own net, smoothly skated up ice, dodging defenders before finding the net on a slap shot from near the blue line.
Among Globe players of the week in hockey was Michaela McLaughlin of Arlington Catholic. The senior notched three assists to help the Cougars win the Catholic Central League title with a 4-0 win over Austin Prep. The Cougars remain ranked No. 1.
Sports summaries: Feb. 14-21, 2016
This summary was published Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016, and updated Feb. 29.
Statistics were reported from those at BostonGlobe.com, unless a local coach reports directly to YourArlington. If you believe a number is in error, please contact the publisher >>
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