The Saugus boys soccer team clinched a state tournament berth for the second consecutive season with a 5-0 win over West Roxbury Wednesday afternoon.
“Last year was special showing how we can win and break a playoff drought that went on for 20 years,” Saugus coach Larry Bolduc said. “This year carries another special meaning showing that we can clinch it again and get another run at advancing in the tournament. This really means a lot for our seven seniors. They really wanted another chance at the tournament.”
The game belonged to Ryan Pugh, who scored three goals. Jonathan Rodrigues (two assists) and Gaspard Jean (one assist) each scored one goal. Sachems goalie Juan Lopez earned the shutout victory.
The Sachems (9-6) host Winthrop Friday evening (5:30) at Anna Parker.
BOYS SOCCER
Classical 1, Malden 1
The tie was enough for the Rams to earn the NEC title.
“These boys always had it in them,” Classical coach Eric Moreno, Jr. said. “They just had to believe in themselves. They’re able to accomplish anything they set their minds to. We won the City Championship, we hadn’t won that since 2008. We won the NEC, we hadn’t won that in a while. Now we’re in states, that’s the next goal. They’re also the first Classical team to go undefeated in the conference. That’s what I’m most impressed about. That’s difficult to do.”
Classical’s goal was scored by Gabriel Novoa (unassisted). Rams goalie Dan Cortes made seven saves.
The Rams finish the regular season at 11-2-5.
GIRLS SOCCER
Winthrop 4, Classical 1
The game belonged to Winthrop’s Maura Dorr, who scored all four goals for the Vikings. Abbey Ierardi scored one goal for Classical on Liv White’s assist.
Classical (7-7-1) visits Gloucester Friday (4).
Danvers 8, Somerville 0
Falcons senior midfielder Jess Pelletier scored three goals and dished two assists in the win. Danvers (14-2-1) hosts Medford Monday night (7).
Malden 8, English 1
Bulldogs freshman Melissa Zayas scored her 16th goal of the season. Also playing well for English were Milena Biondi and Kaylee Smith Whelton.
Revere 1, Everett 0
The Patriots qualified for the state tournament with the victory.
VOLLEYBALL
Peabody 3, North Reading 0
Peabody earned the win with set scores of 29-27, 25-9 and 25-13. Top contributors for the Tanners were Tatiana Correia (23 digs), Jonalyn Carpenter (six kills), Ava LaValle (five kills, three blocks) and Rachel Coleman (14 assists, five aces).
Peabody will celebrate its annual senior night Thursday (5:30) when the Tanners host Somerville.
GOLF
NEC Open
At Olde Salem Greens, Marblehead’s Brendan Locke and Swampscott’s Max Pegnato each shot a score of 75 to tie for medalist honors at the Northeastern Conference Open. Other solid performances came from Salem’s Tommy Harrington (76), Swampscott’s Ryan Graciale (78), Danvers’ Jared Mscisz (78), Danvers’ Cam Morrison (80), Saugus’ Joe Cross (80), Peabody’s Connor McCarron (83), Salem’s Ethan Doyle (83), English’s Paul Papageorgiou (85), Classical’s Brendan Lannon (98), Classical’s Brett Bucklin (99) and English’s Nathan Whitcomb (109).
CROSS COUNTRY
CCL MEET
At the CCL Cross Country Championship held at Franklin Park, St. Mary’s Taban Manyok finished in second place overall in a nine-team field and was named a CCL all-star. Overall the boys team came in fourth place with Mike Carroll finishing in the top 20.
The girls team was led by two freshmen, Lily Newhall and Juliana Tabora, leading the girls team to a sixth-place finish.
