St. Mary’s boys hope their soccer streak continues

The St. Mary’s boys soccer team has a lot going for it, not the least of which is momentum.After losing their first game of the season to Classical in the Lynn City Soccer Tournament, the Spartans (16-1-2) have now gone undefeated in their last 18 games. Coach Mike D’Agostino is hoping to keep that ball rolling when they play Boston International School tonight at 7 p.m. at Peabody High in the Division 4 North semifinals.D’Agostino watched Boston International knock Lynnfield out of the tournament and the one thing he’s not doing is underestimating the opposition.?They’re a sleeper team,” D’Agostino said. “They’re a very talented team. They really gave a good game to Lynnfield. The Lynnfield goalie was amazing.”D’Agostino said Boston International did well against some quality Division 1 teams.?They’re a very fast, very quick team,” he said. “I think it will be a very exciting, back and forth game.”As far as his own team goes, D’Agostino said keeper Erik Whitcomb has come up big in net after not having played the position. Patrick Morin-Plante in the back along with stopper Zach Steuve, who rotates with P.J. Hatchouel, have also been very tough to get past.Noah Camelo and Cristian Chavez have been a deadly duo up front with Chavez racking up 22 goals and 19 assists and Camelo, 18 goals and 24 assist.?Both of them have been huge throughout the season. They use each other to get points, whether it’s a goal or an assist. They don’t care,” he said.The Spartans have some other weapons in the arsenal, including junior outside midfielder Dan Montoya, who scored the game winner against Rockport, and junior Kevin Esper at center midfield.?It’s going to come down to who brings their whole game and who plays to the end,” D’Agostino said.GIRLS SOCCERThe Division 4 North semifinal between Winthrop and Essex Tech is today at 5 p.m. at Peabody High. The Vikings (9-9-2) advanced with a win over St. Mary’s in the quarterfinal and after hitting a few rough stretches this season, have now won their last five games.Coach Tracey Martucci, who is in her eighth year at the Vikings helm, said her team lost several key players midway through the season to injuries, but they all returned in time for the tournament.Martucci said even the games her team lost were good games.?We were basically in our games against Beverly, Peabody, and Danvers,” she said. “We were a tough team to come up against.”Martucci said her goalie, Poli Tsiotos, worked with a goalie coach over the summer and the effort really paid off.?She’s just amazing,” Martucci said, adding that Poli’s sister, Nikki Tsiotos, has been a rock in her new this year role as a stopper this year.Martucci said the team spreads the scoring around with no one player doing it all. Holly Benson and Flora English have shouldered a lot of the offensive responsibility with Mackenzie Chiudina at sweeper, Maura Lanza and freshman Gabby Hinchion on defense, and Amy Sena in the midfield also coming up big.Martucci said the Vikings made it to the North semifinal last year but lost to Austin Prep. She said they’ve never gone beyond the semifinals. Winthrop is the No. 16 seed. The Vikings toppled top-seeded Mt. Alvernia in the first round before defeating St. Mary’s.Essex Tech reached the semifinals with wins over St. Clement and Minuteman. This is the first time the team has made it past the first round of the tournament.?These are pretty exciting times,” coach Kelly Barrio said.?I know Winthrop?s going to be a tough team to beat. They have a couple of really talented players. They play a real hard game. They?re really fast and physical. It?s definitely a good matchup,” she said.The Essex Tech lineup will feature several players from Lynn including senior midfielder and captain Brooke Miles, senior defenseman Lindsay McGovern, and sophomore forward Ella Spiess. AutumnRose Cataldo of Lynn is also on the team, but she?s sidelined due to a concussion.Essex Tech is 13-7-1.