The Whaler soccer team shut out the Dennis-Yarmouth Dolphins 2-0 Tuesday afternoon to improve their record to 5-2-1 this season. It was a misty, wet day on the field but head coach Rich Brannigan II said he was happy with how his team battled through the conditions.
“I was pretty happy with how we played because it was such a sloppy day with the weather being what it is,” Brannigan said. “The guys did a good handling the wet field. Defensively we did well. The thing I try to preach to the guys is there are two extremely important parts of a game in each half. The first and last five minutes. Then after you score you need to play your best. You can mentally let your guard down after you score because you are happy. But you need to keep alert and we did that today.”
The game began as a defensive match, with both teams scoreless through the first 30 minutes of the first half. But the Whalers kept pushing offensively in the final minutes before halftime and David Lemus-Castro split three defenders in an excellent individual effort, found some open space, and ripped a shot into Dennis-Yarmouth’s net to give Nantucket a 1-0 lead after 40 minutes of play.
The Whalers scored off a corner kick opportunity nine minutes into the second half to expand their lead to 2-0. Yeison Gregorio Castro ripped one into the cluster of players in front of the Dolphin’s net. D-Y was unable to clear it and David Lemus-Castro made them pay by burying the rebound.
“They are getting better and better at playing with one another,” Brannigan said. “I think our guys are starting to fit into their roles and we have groups of players who are starting to shine together like our defensive core, our midfielders, our attackers, there are areas on the field where kids are growing not only as individuals but as units.”
The Whalers will be looking for revenge on Thursday when they host Barnstable at 4 pm. Nantucket lost to Barnstable in their season opener 4-0 and have gone 5-1-1 since while Barnstable hasn’t been able to win another game so far this season and sits at 1-5 through their first six games.
In other Whaler sports news from Monday and Tuesday,
Volleyball Bounces Back Against Rising Tide
The Whaler volleyball team beat the Rising Tide Herons in straight sets Tuesday afternoon to improve their record to 6-4 this season. The Whalers the three sets 25-14, 25-13, and 25-18 respectively.
“I was able to get a bunch of young kids in there to play who haven’t seen much time this year and some seniors who haven’t been on the court too much to begin this season,” head coach Andrew Viselli said. “It was a total team effort. The outsides Chloe Marrero and Kacey Riseborough did a hell of a job for us. They really detonated on the ball.”
Addys Del Rosario Gomez finished with a team-high 14 assists. Riseborough had 10 kills and six aces. Kalina Natcheva had six kills.
The Whalers will look to make it two in a row when they host Sturgis East on Thursday at 4 pm.
Boys And Girls Cross Country Beat Sturgis West
The Whaler boys and girls cross country teams picked up wins on the road against Sturgis West Tuesday afternoon.
The boys won 22-40 and Andrew Daume led the way for the Whalers finishing with a time of 20:11. Ryan Whelden came in second with a time of 20:46. James Mack rounded out the top three for Nantucket with a time of 21:32.
The girls won 26-29 and Emerson Pekarcik finished first with a time of 21:00. Hannah Harrington wasn’t far behind finishing with a time of 21:07.
The Whalers will look to win another meet when they travel to take on Monomoy on October 12 at 4 pm.
Girls Soccer Loses To Dennis-Yarmouth
It has been a frustrating season for the Whaler girls soccer team. They had their best shot at a win Tuesday afternoon against the Dennis-Yarmouth Dolphins but were unable to finish all but one of their scoring chances. They lost the game 2-1 and fell to 0-10 this season.
“We dominated play the entire game,” head coach Brian King said. “Emerson (Milne) hit the post late in the second half. She had a great first touch and had the goalie beat. It was a great individual effort.
The bright spot and takeaway from the game was Adney Brannigan scoring her first career varsity goal. Brannigan has been a bright spot for the Whalers and has contributed offensively with her playmaking ability this season on the few goals Nantucket has been able to score.
“That goal should boost her confidence,” King said. “It was an amazing display of speed and power. She’s a terrific talent. She will find the back of the net many more times.”
The Whalers will try again to win their first game of the season when they travel to take on Barnstable on Thursday at 4 pm.
Field Hockey Struggles Against Sandwich
The Whaler field hockey team lost to the Sandwich Blue Knights 4-0 on Monday. The loss snapped a 3-0-1 streak the Whalers were riding entering the game. The Whalers will look to get back in the win column and improve their record to 4-5-1 when they host Sturgis West on Friday at 4 pm.
