UPDATED, Oct. 2: The AHS Spy Ponder varsity girls’ soccer team scored a big nonleague victory Tuesday, Oct. 1, defeating Notre Dame Academy (Hingham), 2-1, in front of a home crowd. The team’s record is now 7-1-1.
The team opened the scoring when senior captain Carolyn Days placed a shot past the Notre Dame keeper, assisted by another senior captain, Alyssa Paolillo.
Both teams exchanged goals in the second half, with the Ponders getting their second goal from freshman Anneli Medina, assisted by senior Sofie Morris. Sophie Routenberg, Ella Rey and Andriana Smith all gave strong contributions for the Spy Ponders.
Arlington girls next face the Reading Rockets at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, at Reading High School.
The AHS boys next play Reading at home on Oct. 2.
AC boys tie; girls lose
On Monday, Sept. 30, at Brockton, the Arlington Catholic boys’ soccer team tied an opponent for the fourth time this season, ending the game against Cardinal Spellman, 1-1. The Cougars are 1-1-4.
Sophomore Melvin Alves scored with eight minutes left to force the tie for the host Cardinals (2-3-2).
The AC girls’ team fell to 1-5, according to BostonGlobe.com, losing at home to Cardinal Spellman, 4-0. Madison Frye had two goals for the Cardinals (4-4-1).
AHS girls top Belmont; boys lose
The Arlington High School varsity girls’ soccer Team bounced back Saturday, Sept. 28, beating rival Belmont, 2-0.
The Spy Ponders controlled play most of the game especially with ball possession. Junior Riley McKenna opened the scoring by heading in a pass from Sophie Routenberg, establishing 1-0 lead.
A short time later, freshman striker Anneli Medina scored with an assist from senior captain Alyssa Paolillo, giving the Spy Ponders a 2-0 lead heading into halftime.
That score maintained through the second half, earning Arlington the victory.
Midfielders senior captains Carolyn Days and Emilia Mannstadt as well as Natalie Faiola all had strong games for the Ponders. Goal keeper Claire Ewen made several spectacular saves, turning away point blank Belmont scoring opportunities.
The team plays home at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1, against Notre Dame Academy (Hingham).
The Arlington High School boys’ soccer team lost, 1-0, at home Friday, Sept. 27, to Belmont.
It was a closely contested game, with neither side able to break the deadlock until Belmont bundled the ball home with five minutes to go.
Despite heavy pressure from the Spy Ponders, and a few late chances, the Ponders had no scoring response.
Arlington’s next game is at home against Reading, with the Spy Ponders looking to bounce back after suffering their second loss of the season (3-2-3).
Boys tie; girls’ streak ends
The Arlington High School boys’ soccer team tied Winchester, 0-0, at home on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
Coming off a strong 3-0 win against Division 1 opponents BC High, the Ponders looked to put a run of wins together after a shaky start to the season.
Despite a number of chances for both sides, neither could break the deadlock.
The Ponders currently sit at 3-1-3 (2-1-3 in league play), and play host to Middlesex League rivals Belmont on Friday, Sept. 27.
The AHS girls’ soccer team’s six-game unbeaten streak came to an end Sept. 25 in Winchester, as the Sachems topped the Spy Ponders, 3-1.
Winchester scored two goals early in first half, taking a 2-0 lead into halftime.
The score maintained 2-0 into the second half until Winchester added a third goal about midway through. Arlington turned up the pressure, with strong play coming from senior midfielders Carolyn Days and Natalie Faiola.
Sofie Morris finally put Arlington on the board with a perfectly placed corner kick that bent its way into the goal, making it 3-1.
The Spy Ponders next opponent will be the Marauders from Belmont with the game scheduled for noon Saturday, Sept. 28, in Belmont.
AHS boys snap back at home
The Arlington High School boys’ soccer team beat BC High, 3-0, at home Monday, Sept. 23.
After a run of three games without a win, most recently a 5-0 loss to Lexington, the Ponders’ season received a huge boost with this win.
The teams scored its first goal early in the second half, when junior striker Jan Pilja slotted the ball home off a quick throw-in deep within BC High’s half.
After the goal, the Ponders continued to push for a second, but found it hard to get past the BC High goalie for a second time.
After consistent pressure, Arlington finally found its second when senior captain Sean Connelly’s cross was deflected in by a BC High defender. The Ponders held on to their 2-0 lead until late in the second half, when a quick counter caught BC High out, and senior David Gydus scored the game-sealing goal.
The Ponders had two more games this week, hosting Winchester on Wednesday, and Belmont on Friday. The AHS girls’ scores will be reported.
AHS boys lose first; girls tie
The Arlington High School boys’ soccer team (2-1-2) lost its first game of the season, falling at the hands of rivals Lexington (3-0) on Friday. Sept. 20.
The game ended 5-0, with Lexington capitalizing on Arlington’s heavy push to get back in the game after going two goals down. The Spy Ponders have a big week ahead, with games against Division 1 Powerhouse BC High, and Middlesex League rivals Winchester and Belmont.
After three games without a win, Arlington will look to get its season back on track. The next game is Monday night, at home against BC High.
The AHS girls’ soccer team remained undefeated, at 5-0-1, with a hard earned 0-0 tie Friday against Middlesex rival Lexington (0-1-1) . The game displayed strong defensive play by both teams, as goal scoring opportunities were limited.
The Spy Ponders back line — consisting of Sophie Routenberg, Michelle Mahoney, Maia Patel and Meghan O’Sullivan — proved stout against strong Lexington strikers.
Goal keeper Claire Ewen also aided in preserving the tie, turning aside Lexington’s opportunities.
The girls’ next opponent will be the defending Division 2 state champion Winchester Sachems at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25.
Archbishop Williams topped Arlington Catholic, 2-0, on Friday at Braintree.
In a tightly contested game for 55 minutes, sophomore Adam Stelljes netted the game’s first goal 10 minutes into the second half. The Bishops (3-3) got some insurance from senior Connor Dolan in the 70th minute, and freshman Nate Morris recorded his second career shutout in a five-save performance. AC is 0-1-2.
AHS girls improve to 5-0; boys tie
The Arlington High School girls’ soccer team won again, beating Woburn on its turf Wednesday, Sept. 18, 3-0.
In the Middlesex League battle, Arlington scored early, with senior captain Emilia Mannstadt netting the first goal with an assist from junior Sophia Saleh. It turned quickly 2-0 when Freshman Anneli Medina broke in between Woburn defenders and scored unassisted.
The Spy Ponders added to the lead when senior captain Alyssa Paolillo made it 3-0, assisted by senior captain Carolyn Days. Both teams exchanged scoring chances in the second half, but no goals were scored.
The undefeated Spy Ponders (5-0) take on Lexington at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, at AHS Peirce turf.
Boys play to 2nd straight draw
The Arlington High School boys’ soccer team (2-0-2) played to a 1-1 draw at home against Woburn on Wednesday.
Coming off a scoreless draw in their last game, the Ponders looked to get back on track ahead of a crucial few weeks in their Middlesex League campaign.
The Ponders appeared to have shaken off the quiet start they experienced against Wakefield, as the team hit the crossbar twice early in the first half. The team finally found its breakthrough midway through the first half off a corner kick.
After a deflected header by senior captain Sean Connelly, junior Noah Sweder tapped the ball home to secure a 1-0 lead for the Ponders. The team held a narrow lead until the second half, when Woburn bundled the ball home following a dangerous free kick.
Despite many late chances for both sides, the game would end 1-1.
The Spy Ponders take on fellow Middlesex League Powerhouse Lexington on Friday.
Archbishop Williams topped Arlington Catholic girls (1-2), 6-0, as junior forward Carly Akoury (2 goals) led the Bishops (3-2).
AHS girls top Newton North
The Arlington High School girls’ soccer team continued its strong play with a 6-2 thrashing of Newton North on Monday, Sept. 16, at Arlington.
Senior Natalie Faiola had a goal and an assist for the Spy Ponders, which struck for four goals in the first period.
The team is at Woburn at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18.
The AHS boys’ team (2-0-1), ranked No. 10 by The Globe, hosts Woburn on Sept. 18.
The Arlington Catholic boys’ soccer team stands at 0-0-2. On Sept. 16, it tied Austin Prep, 2-2, and went 1-01 against Lowell Catholic on Friday, Sept. 13.
AHS girls win, boys draw
The Arlington High School girls’ soccer team topped Wakefield, 4-1, on Thursday, Sept. 12, away.
Senior midfielder Sofie Morrison factored into all four goals for the Spy Ponders, as she netted three goals and collected an assist. Junior goalie Claire Ewen secured the win, stopping three breakaways.
The AHS boys’ soccer team played to 0-0 draw Thursday night at home against Wakefield. Coming off wins against Melrose and Watertown, the Ponders (2-0-1) looked to continue its strong start to the season against an opponent that began the season with two losses.
Unfortunately for Arlington, the team could not find a breakthrough, as Wakefield’s defense held tight against continued AHS attacks.
AHS girls, boys improve to 2-0
Both Arlington High School soccer teams improved to 2-0 as they scored wins Tuesday, Sept. 10, against Watertown.
The girls came away shellackeding its opponent, 6-0, at home, as seniors Rafi Diamond (two goals) and Carolyn Days (one goal, three assists) led the Spy Ponders (2-0).
The boys’ squad squeezed out a 2-1 away victory. Arlington took an early lead when junior striker Jan Pilja drew a foul just outside Watertown’s penalty area, and senior captain Sean Connelly scored the ensuing free kick.
The Spy Ponders added to their tally in the second half, when Pilja’s shot from the top of the box was deflected into senior Nirvan Patel-Masini’s path, and he tapped it home. Deep in the second half with a two-goal cushion, the team sat back, protecting its lead.
After numerous chances, all coming up short, Watertown finally had its breakthrough when “Boston Globe Player to Watch” junior Rodrigo Freitas was played through by a quick combination play and applied the finishing touch.
Despite continued pressure by the Raiders, Arlington held onto its slim lead and secured a 2-0-0 start.
The Ponders will look to continue their winning ways Thursday night, when they host Wakefield.
AHS boys win season opener, 3-1
The Arlington High School boys’ soccer team, ranked 10th by The Globe after a 16-4-2 season last year, won its opener at home Thursday, Sept. 5.
The Ponders topped Middlesex League opponents Melrose, 3-1. The AHS girls won, 3-2, at Melrose.
Arlington jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, with junior Toby Ritzkowski opening the scoring and senior Dean Angelakis adding a second a few minutes later.
The Ponders held the two-goal advantage until late in the second half, when heavy pressure from the Red Raiders finally came to fruition, closing the deficit to 1.
Defending a 2-1 lead with only a few minutes to go, the team hit Melrose on a counter. Senior Nirvan Patel-Masini drew a foul in the box, resulting in a penalty kick. Senior captain Declan Dolan would go on to dash any hopes of a Raiders’ comeback, as he coolly slotted the penalty away to secure the win for Arlington.
Nov. 27, 2018: MIAA soccer: Nauset tops AHS boys, but game closer than it looks
News summaries about the AHS boys’ team by Sean Connelly, a YourArlington AHS intern, were published Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, and after. AHS parent John Paolillo provides girls’ highlights, which were updated Sept. 28. Latest update Oct. 3.
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