The Westport girls field hockey team is off to a terrific start after dominating Wareham 4-0, during a home game on Tuesday afternoon. The Wildcats are currently 3-0 after crushing Dighton-Rehoboth 5-0, and blanking New Bedford 2-0. Senior captains Makayla Grace, Kaylin Pacheco, Maddie Melnyk and Bella Babb and the Wildcats fell in the round of sixteen in the D-4 state tournament last season. This fall they are hoping to surpass that mark.

“We have a veteran group of leaders that have a lot of experience,” said head coach Shelly Morris. “They are looking to win the conference and make a solid run at the state tournament.”

Offense takes control

The Westport offensive attack kept Wareham goalkeeper Jasmine Fernandes and their defense busy all game long. The Wildcats blistered 14 shots on goal and rarely let the Vikings past the center-line.

Senior center-forward Maddie Melnyk scored a pair of goal for Westport. Melnyk collected a pass from Miranda Perry in front of the goal and blasted a shot by Fernandes to give Westport a 1-0 lead in the first quarter. The center scored her second goal, a high wrist-shot over the shoulder of Fernandes and into the top corner of the goal to put Westport up 4-0 in the fourth quarter. 

“Our chemistry is really starting to come together,” said Melnyk of the offense.”It’s senior year, I love playing with my teammates. I’m hoping to make as many memories as we can.”

Bowers and Babb score middle goals

Senior winger Mackenzie Bowers scored a back-door open-netter for the Wildcats second goal in the third quarter from a pass by junior midfielder Sophia Rego, who along with senior center-mid Makayla Grace kept Wareham hemmed in their own end of the field. Senior winger Bella Babb scored the third goal, assisted by Rego earlier in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats have scored 11 goals in their first three games of the season.

“We are really excited,” said Grace. I’ve been playing with these girls forever now. We are a close-nit group that is always there to pick each other up. I’m really proud of the team. We are executing really well right now.”

Wildcats junior goalkeeper Brianna Soares has three shutouts, but has yet to be tested by the other teams, while only facing just a handful of shots in the three-game stretch. From her position on the field, she said that the team is looking very strong.

“They are communicating really well and playing together as a team,” Soares said. Our spirits are really high and we have a lot of hope for this season.”

Girls soccer team annihilates Avon 10-0

Sophomore striker Lily Veracka scored five goals as the Westport girls soccer team overwhelmed Avon 10-0 during a home game on Tuesday afternoon. Veracka has scored eight of the Wildcats 16 goals this season. Eighth grader Kenleigh Leblanc added a pair of goals for the Wildcats and Julia Raposo, Brooke Crocker and Maddison Wenson each scored a goal in the onslaught. Westport is currently 2-1 after beating Durfee 4-3 in their first game of the season and falling to Bishop Stang 4-2 in a home game last Thursday.

Boys soccer team pulverizes Avon 10-0 too

The Westport boys soccer team demolished Avon 10-0 as well, in an away game on Tuesday afternoon. Noah Vieira scored a hat-trick to lead Westport. R.J. Ferreira and Kenny Kaliff each scored a pair of goals, 2, and Joey Guild, C.J. LeBlanc and Preston Carvalho each scored one. Westport evened their record at 1-1-1 on the season after falling to Durfee 3-1 in their first game of the season and knotting Bishop Stang 2-2 last Thursday in an away game. The Wildcats, who began their season on the road, will host Holbrook in their homecoming game next Tuesday, 9/22, at 3:30 p.m.