Historic Win for St. John Paul II Girls Soccer Team

In a thrilling match in Hyannis, the St. John Paul II girls soccer team made history by reaching the Elite Eight for the first time. The team, ranked No. 6, celebrated a narrow 1-0 victory over the No. 11 Monson in the Division 5 Round of 16 of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association state tournament.

The decisive moment came early in the game when Emma Collette scored in the second minute. Her attempt from the right side was deflected into the net by a Monson defender, marking a significant achievement for the Lions. On the defensive side, Meah Dalrymple was key, successfully shutting down Monson’s star player, Hannah Murphy. Alongside her, defenders Kiera O’Malley, Devin Crofford, Ariel Thompson, and Maddy Boyle played crucial roles in preventing Monson from scoring.

In other high school sports action, the Division 3 Round of 8 saw the Dennis-Yarmouth Dolphins triumph over the No. 3 Newburyport with a score of 1-0. Brooke Chicoine netted the only goal of the game, propelling the Dolphins into the Final Four. A standout performance by the Dolphins included strong defense, particularly from Addy Callachan, who made an impressive save that could have easily been a goal for Newburyport.

Additionally, in the Division 5 Round of 8, the No. 1 Bourne Canalmen swept No. 9 Wareham, securing a 3-0 win, with Nola Timo leading her team with nine kills and several digs. Meanwhile, the No. 2 Brookline team defeated the No. 7 Barnstable in straight sets, marking the end of the season for the Red Hawks.

In cross-country, the Dennis-Yarmouth girls finished third in their division, with Olivia Pendleton achieving a personal record time of 19:28.06. Meanwhile, Falmouth’s Silas Gartner captured first place in the Division 2B race with a time of 15:42, earning a spot in the upcoming state championship.

As the season progresses, local teams continue to show determination and talent, making their mark in various sports.