The Whaler field hockey team started their season 0-4 and looked to be in the midst of what would end up being a long, grueling year. But the Whalers beat the Sturgis East Storm 1-0 yesterday afternoon to improve their record to 3-0-1 in their last four games.
“We are on a little bit of a hot streak right now which is really good to see,” head coach Dan Weber said. “All of those tough games at the beginning of the year really helped us. I am not sure we have ever had a span of success like this during a season before since I have been here.”
Lily Remick was the Whaler goal scorer, making it 1-0 four minutes into the second quarter. Maclaine Willett continues to be a strong force in net and is benefitting from excellent defense in front of her.
“This is a really veteran defense,” Weber said. “They have been playing together now for years and it is pretty textbook defense. They do a great job of communicating and covering for each other. We very rarely get caught in odd-number situations. If somebody steps forward, there is someone behind them to cover for them.”
The Whalers will travel to take on the Sandwich Blue Knights on Monday at 3:30 pm. The Blue Knights play on a turf field, which Weber said will present a challenge for Nantucket, who plays on grass.
“The game is much faster on turf so we have practice time set up for this morning to try to prepare,” Weber said. “We will just need to continue communicating well and can’t be getting beat by Sandwich’s speed. My team seems like they are up to the task.”
In other Whaler sports news from yesterday,
Volleyball loses another to Dennis-Yarmouth
The Whaler volleyball team lost in straight sets to the Dennis-Yarmouth Dolphins yesterday afternoon. Freshman setter Bianca Santos had 18 assists and Kalina Natcheva had five kills.
“Kalina was definitely the player of the match for us because she was playing on a whole other level from the rest of the team,” Viselli said. “And I thought overall we played well. But Kalina was doing and playing at a level that I can only hope every player can reach. She is taking hard swings at the ball and putting everything into it. She is running fast, getting touches at the net, just impressive all around.”
The Whalers lost the first set 9-25, the second set 24-26, and the third set 15-25. Viselli said Dennis-Yarmouth is always a good challenge and measuring stick for his program because of the Dolphin’s pedigree as an annual state championship contender.
The Whalers will look to snap their two game losing streak and avoid dropping to 5-5 on the season when they host the Rising Tide Herons on Tuesday at 4 pm.
Cross Country Loses To Dennis-Yarmouth
The Whaler boys and girls cross country teams lost to the Dennis-Yarmouth Dolphins in an away meet yesterday afternoon.
The boys lost their meet 22-34 and the girls lost their meet 25-32. It was the girls first loss this season, but they remain undefeated in league play.
The Whalers will look to get back in the win column when they travel for a meet against the Sturgis West Navigators at 4 pm.
