The Westport soccer team edged rival Diman 2-1 in a vicious battle at Russell Davis Field on Friday afternoon. The game featured fierce hitting as referees handed out five disciplinary cards, three to Westport players. The Wildcats improved to 2-0, after beating Bishop Stang 1-0 last Monday and continue to play well despite losing a slew of strong starters and while moving up to Division 4.

“I’m pleased to be 2-0. We knew it was going to be challenging,” said Westport head coach Chris Parker, “We just don’t want to be sitting on cards right now.”

 

Couto, Raposo give Wildcats a 2-0 lead

Senior forward Carter Couto scored on a penalty kick in the first half to give Westport a 1-0 lead.

Junior striker Austin Raposo broke through the Diman back line and blasted a shot into the goal to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead midway through the second half. 

Diman scored late to make a game of it in the final minutes. 

“Austin’s a big-time player,” said Coach Parker of his new striker. “He scored 9 goals for us as a sophomore. We’ve been fortunate at that position with Hunter Brodeur, then Will Quinlan, both 30-goal scorers, and now Austin. He’s very technical and he has a strong shot.”

 

Westport hits the ground running despite youth

The Wildcats lost eight starters to graduation last spring, all who played big roles in the 2023 championship season. 

 “It’s not only the number, but the quality of players that we lost,” he said. “Noah, Will, Nazy, Zach, Henry, …a core group that was a part of that championship team.”

Through the hard work of Coach Parker and his coaching staff— Dan DaSilva, George Stelljes and Luke Parker— and the hard work of the players, they have hit the ground running this fall with a bunch of new faces in new roles. Four sophomores making the team and contributing every game has been the biggest and best surprise this season. Preston Carvalho, Gavin DaSilva, RJ Ferreira and Jackson Chase have helped bring stability through the middle of the field. 

“Two of them are starting and two are playing substantially,” he said. “I couldn’t have predicted that they would have improved dramatically, in one year’s time.”

Carvalho is starting at attacking midfielder, DaSilva at holding midfielder and Ferreira is the first midfielder off the bench. 

“They bring tremendous energy,” he said. “They combine technical skills with speed.”

 

Senior captains Novo, Skov and Couto play strong-lead strong

Senior captains Landen Novo, Garrett Skov and Couto have provided leadership through their strong play. They have helped to Coach Parker’s expectations for the season.

“My upperclassmen all look really good. All a coach can expect is that guys step up. And a bunch of them did. We expected to be competitive, but we are more than that, we are in a position to win every game that we play.” 

Novo the team’s passing midfielder, is a smart and aggressive player that is great with the ball on his feet and has a rocket of a shot, according to Coach Parker.

“Landen is typically the best player on the pitch, for both teams,” he said. “When he’s locked in and healthy, he’s a game changer. He’s really got no weaknesses.”

Skov, a center back fielder, is big and tall and can stop attackers in their tracks. He anchors the defensive backline of Blake Stewart, Sam Waszkiewicz, Noah Jedrey. 

“Garrett is big, tough and fast. He is great at breaking up plays and with the foot skills that he learned playing midfielder last season, he can lead the attack,” said Coach Parker. 

Couto is a speedy left midfielder with a ton of skill. He makes good decisions with the ball and is also a terrific passer that can score. 

 

 

McGonigle finally gets a chance to play

Goalkeeper Elijah McGonigle was Noah Amaral’s understudy for years. He rode the pine during games as he bided his time behind Amaral, the best goalkeeper in the division, who held the spot for six years. Now McGonigle finally has his chance to play, though he has sophomore Jackson Chase nipping at his heels. 

“Jackson has given Elijah a run for his money,” said Coach Parker. “Elijah has to work above and beyond to maintain his starting role. That’s how good Jackson has been playing. That competition makes both of them better. Iron sharpens iron as they say.”

 

Based on Westport’s enrollment, the Wildcats have moved up to Division 4 this season. 

“They recalibrated all of the divisions. All of the best teams in D-5 also moved up. So, we didn’t even get away from them,” he said. 

 

 

Next up:

Westport plays Durfee at home on Tuesday, 9/16 at 3:30 p.m., at Wareham on Thursday 9/18 at 3:45 p.m. and at Atlantis Charter on Tuesday 9/23 at 5 p.m.