TURNERS FALLS — A fast start sent the Smith Voc girls soccer team past Franklin Tech, 3-0, on a rain-soaked field on Thursday.
The Vikings scored the game’s first goal within the first 10 minutes of action and never looked back as they remained undefeated at 5-0-3, following the shutout.
Erin Miller put Smith Voc ahead with the game’s first goal off a corner-kick opportunity. Kate Wolcott doubled the Vikings’ lead to 2-0 with a strike following another corner, then Monique Fredette added an insurance marker in the second half, with an assist from sister Savannah Fredette, to seal the victory for the visitors.
The Eagles dropped to 3-4-3 overall, but head coach Jason Butyinski felt his team never threw in the towel despite not much going their way in the defeat.
“I was pleased with our effort in terms of, we didn’t hang our heads,” Butyinski said. “We’re getting behind in games and the girls are holding their heads high, they’re working hard.
“We’ve been struggling to score a little bit, with that said, Smith Voc’s a very good team and we knew that going in,” Butyinski said.
Butyinski also thought Mady Lynde, Samantha Duncan and Ariel Peters anchored the Eagles backline.
“Those three played very well for me, defensively,” Butyinski said. “They don’t get a ton of credit, but every game we’re trying to lock in.”
Tech goalie Cheyenne Ballentine was active with 15 stops in her first varsity start while Smith Voc’s keeper, Julianis Suarez, finished with four saves.
Both squads will return to the pitch on Monday, Sept. 29 in a pair of road games. The Eagles will head to Pioneer Valley while the Vikings will travel to Hoosac Valley.
Kickoff for both games is set for 4 p.m.
Volleyball
Franklin Tech 3, Turners 2 — The Eagles came out on top in Thursday’s five-set thriller.
Tech lost the first set 11-25, but rattled off the next two set wins by scores 25-12, and 25-19. The Thunder evened the score with a 25-10 win in set four, before the Eagles won the final set 15-8.
Maddie Dietz (five aces, two kills, six digs, four assists), Janelle Massey (four aces, six digs, four digs) and Autumn Thorton (four aces, two kills, dig) played well for Turners.
Frontier at Wahconah, 6:15
Mahar 3, Pioneer 1 — The Senators snapped a three-match losing streak with the victory against the Panthers.
Hayden Comeau (three digs, 10 kills, six aces and assist) and Mia Santana (three digs, two kills, six aces, 13 assists) starred for Mahar.
Kiara Gruskowski led Pioneer with seven kills, three blocks, 19 digs, two aces and two assists. Eighth grader Evangeline Lewis played well in her first varsity contest.
Lenox 3, Mohawk Trail 0 — Emma Canaday contributed an ace, a kill, three assists and a block in the Warriors’ loss.
Set scores favored the Millionaires 25-5, 25-7 and 25-20.
Wahconah 3, Frontier 1 — The Redhawks managed one set win in the road defeat.
Frontier now sits at 3-6 on the season.
