Revere Football Loses to Winthrop, 30-13

The Revere High football team fell to Winthrop, 30-13, in a rare pre-Thanksgiving meeting Friday night at Harry Della Russo Stadium.

The schools traditionally meet on Thanksgiving morning, but under the new MIAA playoff format decided to play on two occasions this season.

Winthrop used a potent running game to amass more than 250 yards on the ground.

Senior captain Kaleb Silva was a standout for Revere with 125 yards and one touchdown. Silva displayed excellent acceleration after receiving handoffs from quarterback Dan Murphy and Ravi Ryland.

“Kaleb’s the man, he’s a tough kid,” said Revere coach Lou Cicatelli. “Kaleb gets it done, whether it’s running the ball or making tackles. But one guy does not make a football team. We need the other ten to start stepping up.”

Senior captain Tommy Portrait scored Revere’s first touchdown on a three-yard run. Senior placekicker Steven Selevitch booted the Pat to close the margin to 14-7 with 5:19 left in the first half.

Revere was driving late toward the end zone late in the half when Winthrop’s Justin Casilla intercepted a screen pass in what was the turning point of the game. The Viking converted the turnover into six points on the last play of the half and then executed a fake PAT play for two points and 22-7 lead at the break.

“We’re struggling on offense right now,” said Cicatelli. “It’s just mistake, mistake, after mistake and I told them we’re not to going to win football games if we keep turning the ball over.”

Revere (0-3) will play in Danvers (2-1) Friday at 7 p.m. at Dr. Deering Stadium located behind the high school.

RHS boys soccer team wins, ties,  at 4-1-1

The Revere High boys soccer team enjoyed a successful week, winning two of their three contests and tying the third to improve to 4-1-1 on the season.

“The team overall played well,” said RHS head coach Abdel Rhazi. “We had a bit of a letdown in our third game, the 2-2 tie with Marblehead, but we rallied in the final 15 minutes to earn the point.”

The Patriots opened their week with a 2-0 blanking of Beverly last Monday. Abel Alcantar and Ruben Soares potted the goals for Revere. Two days later the Patriots defeated Lynn English, 4-1. Revere controlled the contest virtually from the opening kickoff, allowing English to get on the scoreboard only in the final minute of play. Senior forward Saad El-Khian reached the back of the English net twice and teammates Tarik Maddrey and Soares both scored a goal apiece.

“English came out with a pressing offense that had us on our heels a bit in the opening five minutes, but we made some adjustments and took control of the game the rest of the way,” said Rhazi, whose team held a commanding 3-0 lead at the half and never looked back.

Saturday’s contest with Marblehead, which ended in a 2-2 tie, proved to be a frustrating experience for the Patriots. “We came out flat and had trouble getting into a rhythm,” said Rhazi. “We were overconfident after playing so well in our two previous games, but we are a team that needs to be on our toes at all times.”

After spotting  Marblehead a 1-0 lead, the Patriots finally put their offense together and clicked for a pair of goals in the final 15 minutes to move out to a 2-1ead. Maddrey and El-Khian accounted for the Revere markers.

However, Marblehead earned the tie with a goal in the final 30 seconds.

“We have to keep working hard,” said Rhazi. “Overall it was a very good week for us, but we learned that we cannot rest on our laurels and that we cannot take any opponent lightly.”

The Patriots will host Gloucester tomorrow (Thursday), hit the road to Danvers Monday, and then return home to entertain Swampscott next Wednesday.

Volleyball team wins two of three, now 7-1

The Revere High volleyball team won two of its three matches this past week to improve to 7-1 on the season.

Coach Jaime Imbracsio’s charges opened the week with a hard-fought 3-2 triumph over Lynn Classical last Monday. The teams traded games in the see-saw match, as Revere won the first and third games, 25-23 and 25-20, only to see Classical battle back each time to win the second and fourth games, 25-13 and 26-24,  to leave matters at a 2-2 deadlock, thus setting the stage for a dramatic fifth game (which only goes to 15 points instead of the usual 25). The Lady Patriots prevailed by he narrowest of margins, 15-13, to earn the big win over their Northeastern Conference rival.

On Friday the Lady Patriots took the measure of the other Lynn team, Lynn English, by a 3-1 score. After dropping the first game by a wide 25-15 margin, the Revere girls battled back to assume control of the contest, winning the next three games, 25-23, 25-19, and 25-17, to take the match.

Among the statistical leaders for Revere were captain Shannon Spillane with eight digs, Ally Hinojosa with five service aces, and the duo of captain Natalie Colon-Martins and Helen Davis with three kills each.

Sandwiched between the two victories came the Lady Patriots’ first loss of the 2013 campaign, a 3-0 blanking at Peabody last Wednesday. After extending the first game before losing by a score of 29-27, Revere dropped the next two games, 25-13 and 25-16.

“Peabody by far is the best team we’ve faced,” said Imbracsio, who lauded the defensive efforts of Spillane and Helen Davis, who were all over the floor making digs. “We learned a lot from playing them and hopefully it will pay off for us.”

Imbracsio and her crew have a busy week ahead, with four of their next five contests on the road. They were set to play at Winthrop this past Monday, at Bedford in a non-league tilt today (Wednesday), at Salem Friday, and at Swampscott next Wednesday. The Lady Patriots will be at home only on Monday, October 7, when they host Marblehead.

Girls soccer drops close tilt with English

The Revere High girls soccer team dropped a heartbreaker last week, falling to Lynn English by a slim 1-0 margin under the lights on their home turf last Wednesday.

“It was such a great game to watch, all the girls played their hearts out,” said RHS head coach Megan O’Donnell. “It was one little mistake that allowed Lynn English to take the victory.”

Lady Patriot standout Paolo Ortez delivered about 15 shots on the Lynn English net, but could not catch a break for a goal. Keeper Cassandra DiBella saved about 22 shots with just the one squeaking by her. O’Donnell also praised the performances of  Olivia King, Danielle Fortuna, Mac Langata, and Marcielo Ortez, all of whom played their best games of the season.

“It was great to see the girls pull together as a team and play hard after losing a tough one two days earlier on Monday to   Beverly,” noted O’Donnell.

The Lady Patriots then took on perennially-strong Marblehead on Friday and came out on the short end of a 9-1 decision. Ortez found the range for Revere to score the Lady Patriots’ tally. Revere was shorthanded for the contest, but many Lady Patriots stepped up to play many different positions to help their teammates out. Ariana Licata played forward, where she had a shot on net, and the team received great defense from Brenda Rudecindo, Marisa Verruto, and Victoria Coots. O’Donnell also lauded the play of Olivia  King and Amanda Carol, who controlled the mid-field. DiBella  was in goal and saw 45 shots throughout the contest game, but never gave up  and made some unbelievable saves.

The Lady Patriots were set to trek to Gloucester tomorrow (Thursday) for a 6:00 p.m. encounter. They will host Danvers Monday and journey to Swampscott next Wednesday.

Cross country girls run at Gloucester

The Revere High girls cross country team made the long trip to Gloucester last Tuesday to compete on the Lady Fishermen’s home course at Ravenswoods Park.  The weather was perfect for running and the course, though challenging, saw many of the Lady Patriots improve upon their pace from last week.  In fact, nine of the Revere finishers ran paces that were personal bests,  faster than any other race pace they have run.

“Though the team lost, I was very pleased to see such improvements,” said RHS head coach Katie Sinnott. “The team is running well together and the girls are getting excited to see their performance improve each week.”

Freshmen Vanessa Puopolo and Lani Stevens ran extremely well.  Vanessa finished as the second Revere girl and Lani was the most improved, taking over a minute and a half per mile off her previous pace.  Other personal bests were run by seniors Nikki Nelson and Taylor O’Neil; sophomores Jaclynne Dion and Suellen Guerreiro; and freshmen Megan Erwin, Nicole Paddock, Vanessa Puopolo, Joanna Severino Perez and Lani Stevens.

“Nikki lost a closely-contended race,” noted Sinnott of her captain’s performance. “After leading for most of the race, she took a quick fall and fell behind the eventual winner, missing the top spot by just seconds.  However, she took the fall in stride and pushed herself all the way to the finish. “

The final results showed Gloucester winning by a 21-40 score. Nelson came across the line in second place overall in 19:46. Vanessa Puopolo was the next Revere runner in fifth spot in 21:37.  She was followed by Jaclynne Dion in 10th spot in 23:20; Suellen Guerreiro in 11th place in 23:21; and Taylor O’Neil in 12th in 23:58 to complete the RHS scoring.

Other Lady Patriots who competed, and their times and places were: Hayley Mangino  (24:01, 13th overall), Nicole Paddock  24:23, 15th), Trisha Cheever (26:16, 17th),  Joanna Severino Perez (29:48,  19th),  Jessica Ventura (29:48,  20th), Lani Stevens (32:04, 22nd), Evelyn Bonilla (32:06,  23rd), and Megan Erwin  32:17,  24th).

Also participating, but taking a wrong turn (and thus not getting an official time) were Meloee Nazaire, Kasey Sierra, Michelle Vargas, Rajaa Belhaouari, Emily Brawley, and Alyssa Silveira.

Sinnott and her crew were set to face Lynn Classical yesterday (Tuesday) and will host Salem next Wednesday in their first home meet of the 2013 season.

Flynn pleased with  his team’s improvement

Although the Revere High boys cross country team came out on the short end of a 19-46 decision to Gloucester last Tuesday, RHS coach Mike Flynn was pleased with his team’s effort and improving times.

“The team is working hard and getting faster every week,” said Flynn. “It’s been very exciting to watch this team improve.”

Leading the way for the Patriots was senior captain John Dello Russo, who crossed the line in fourth place in 17:23 over the 2.9 mile Gloucester course. “John epitomizes the concept of student-athlete,” said Flynn. “He’s a fantastic kid who has been a great leader for our team this season.”

Fellow captain Jay Mistri was next across the line for Revere in ninth place with a clocking of 18:50. “Jay has become the most improved runner over the course of his career whom I’ve ever coached,” said Flynn.  “He’s set a great example with his work ethic for our younger runners.”

Bounlaing Chea was third for Revere in 10th place overall in 19:26. Christ Genty, running his best race  ever, came across in 11th spot in 19:49. Sebastian Mejia was fifth for Revere in 12th place in 19:55. Other Patriot runners were Ahmed Ouidzenadui in 21:30, Dominic Giangregorio in 23:32, Jeremy Delgado in 23:51, John Erazo in 24:25, Vinicio Baez in 25:01, and Alex DeRosa in 25:01.

Flynn and his crew were set to meet Lynn Classical yesterday (Tuesday) and will host Salem next Wednesday.