RHS sports Roundup
Football team shoots for playoff spot Friday
The Revere High football team will be seeking to secure a berth in the post-season playoffs when the Patriots take to the field Friday evening against Lynn Classical at the Manning Bowl. Kick-off time is set for 7:00.
Although Revere fell to 2-4 on the season with a 35-21 loss to Peabody last Friday, Coach Lou Cicatelli’s squad still controls its own destiny in the chase for a playoff spot, which requires the Pats to finish in the top eight among the teams in the Division 3 Northeast. A win will punch the Revere’s ticket for a Journey to the Tourney, while a loss will leave their fate in the hands of others, dependent on the outcome of the games of the other teams who also have playoff aspirations.
Friday’s contest against Peabody saw the Patriots give it their all against a potent Tanner squad that entered the fray with a 4-1 record. However, some key miscues on special teams’ play proved the difference in the contest.
Revere drew first blood on the second play from scrimmage when speedy junior quarterback Danny Murphy called his own number on a trap play and bolted 80 yards for a quick-as-a-flash 6-0 Patriot lead that became 7-0 with the successful PAT kick by Steve Noel that split the uprights.
Peabody responded with a 12-play drive that covered 70 yards to knot matters at 7-7. The Patriots threatened to retake the lead in the second period on a nice drive of their own when they moved the ball to the Tanner 20 in nine plays, but the drive stalled and Peabody took over on downs. The Tanners then marched the 80 yard distance in 13 plays to take a 14-7 advantage with 3:00 left in the half.
Revere went three-and-out on its ensuing possession, but then provided Peabody with a golden opportunity thanks to a shanked punt that gave the Tanners the ball at midfield. Peabody took full advantage of the chance and got into the end zone to make it a 21-7 game at the intermission.
“That was a tough way to end the half,” said RHS head coach Lou Cicatelli. “We had played them fairly evenly to that point, but we made a mistake and it cost us.”
However, the Pats still were in the game and whatever momentum may have been on the Peabody side at the end of the first half did not carry over into the second, as the Revere defense forced the Tanners into a three-and-out on their first possession of the third period. Disaster soon struck however, when the Pats were forced to punt. Peabody blocked the kick and recovered the pigskin at the Revere 25, from where the Tanners went into the endzone to take a commanding 28-7 advantage.
The Revere offense showed some life in the final frame, first with Murphy (who had his best game of the season on 8-for-15 passing for 140 yards to go with his TD jaunt) connecting for a 35 yard TD pass to Kaleb Silva, who had lined up in the slot and ran a wheel route, and then with Silva bolting for a 50 yard ramble to the end zone.
However, it proved too little, too late for the Patriots with the 35-21 finale lighting up the scoreboard at the final whistle.
“It was a physical game by both teams and we gave it our all,” said Cicatelli. “But in the end, Peabody was the better team and they took advantage of what we gave them.”
Silva enjoyed a fine all-around game with more than 100 yards rushing, two touchdowns, some long pass receptions, and his usual strong effort on defense. Junior linebacker Steve Noel once again led the Revere defensive effort (“Stevie was all over the field,” noted Cicatelli) and safety Mike Norton cut down many Peabody sweeps.
The success of the Patriots’ season now comes down to Friday night in Lynn as the Patriots attempt to make their first foray into the post-season under the new MIAA playoff format. “We’ll have to bring our ‘A’ game if we hope to make the playoffs,” said Cicatelli.
Rough patch for RHS boys soccer
The Revere High boys soccer team, which already has qualified for the post-season state tournament, hit a rough patch along their route to a Journey to the Tourney this past week, dropping two contests and tying one. The biggest bump for the Patriots came in the form of a red card handed to a Patriot in last Monday’s contest with Malden.
Revere had battled evenly with the Golden Tornados, the Patriots’ former rival from the Greater Boston League that is enjoying an undefeated season, through the first 65 minutes of play with the score standing at nil-nil to that point.
However, the appearance of the little red card from the ref’s shirt pocket changed the dynamics of the match completely, forcing Revere to play a man down for the final 15 minutes. Malden took full advantage of the opportunity, scoring twice, to come away with a 2-0 victory.
The Patriots managed to salvage a tie with Salem last Wednesday, thanks to a superb free kick by Matt Diaz from 25 yards out that caught the top corner with about 20 minutes to play. However, two days later the Patriots once again were unable to reach the back of their opponent’s net and came up on the short end of a 1-0 decision to Lynn Classical Friday evening that marred an otherwise festive Senior Night.
“We played really well against Malden, but the red card changed the complexion of the game,” said RHS head coach Abdel Rhazi. “However, we did not play as well in our next two games against weaker opponents and that was disappointing.”
In their two matches two weeks ago, the Patriots punched their ticket for a Journey to the Tourney with a 1-1 tie with Beverly and a 1-0 win over Swampscott. Diaz scored the goals in both contests. The Beverly match was a bit of a heartbreaker, as the Pats clung to a 1-0 lead until Beverly notched the equalizer with less than two minutes to play.
Rhazi and his crew, who now stand at 7-4-3 on the season, were set to play at Lynn English yesterday (Tuesday) and will wrap up their regular season Monday at Peabody. They then will await word of their seeding and first-round opponent in the state tourney.
RHS volleyball
team defeats Salem
The young Revere High volleyball team, which is continuing to show rapid improvement as the season progresses, earned a 3-0 victory over Salem last week. The Lady Patriots captured the match in straight sets, 25-21, 25-20, and 25-16.
Among the leaders for the Lady Patriots were Ally Hinojosa with two kills and six digs; Natasha Iacivello with six aces, five kills, and two digs; Vanessa Velasquez with six digs; and Samantha Myrtil with six aces.
“The girls all played well and together as a team, as shown in the stats,” said RHS head coach Jaime Imbracsio. “All of the team members contributed to the win.”
Revere previously dropped a close contest with Beverly in a hard-fought battle that went four long sets, 24-26, 25-17, 23-25, and 22-25.
“This was our best match to-date,” noted Imbracsio. “The girls played so hard. We just need to gain more confidence in ourselves and then we will win matches like this.”
Hinjosa enjoyed a superb outing with 10 digs, two kills, and three aces. Vanessa Leone contributed two aces, a kill, and five digs and Iacivello came through with an ace, nine kills, and seven digs.
The Revere girls also battled fiercely in a match with Winthrop. Though the Lady Patriots fell in three sets, 18-25,
17-25, and 16-25, they displayed a high level of tenacity. Hinojosa led the way again with six digs and four kills, while Iacivello made four blocks and five kills and Velasquez had five digs and an ace.
“The girls have played really well in the past two weeks,” said Imbracsio. “Our matches were really close and the girls have proven they are a team whom others have to fight with to defeat. It showed how much potential these girls have and how well they can really play together. It sets the bar high for future games and seasons. We should end the season strong and win more games.”
The Lady Patriots were set to wrap-up their 2014 campaign starting this past Monday at Winthrop. They were scheduled to host Lynn English last night (Tuesday). Revere’s Senior Night festivities are set for tomorrow night against Peabody and the season finale is at Medford this coming Monday.
RHS girls cross country
sets sights on NEC Meet
The Revere High girls cross country team ran into a strong Peabody team on an unseasonably warm Tuesday last week. Although the Lady Patriots absorbed their second loss of the season, RHS head coach Katie Sinnott was pleased with the effort of her team, whose record stands at a sterling 6-2.
“Peabody is a very strong team, with 10 or 12 very strong runners and tremendous depth,” said Sinnott. “With our top runner injured and one of the captains unavailable to race, we went into the race a little weaker than we would want. The girls gave the race their full effort, but we came up short.”
Freshman Hannah Fitzpatrick finished as the first RHS girl in 11th place a time of 22:00 over the three-mile Peabody loop, earning most improved honors among the Lady Patriots. Her teammates and their times were:
Suellen Guerreiro – 22:11; Hayley Mangino – 23:03; Trisha Cheever – 23:18; Joanna Severino Perez – 24:15; Monica Posada – 26:35; Cristina Martinez – 26:58; Megan Erwin – 26:59; Nicole Paddock – 27:00; Lani Stevens – 27:11; Lori Brizuela – 31:49; Leslie Constancia – 36:04; Catherine Monroy – 36:04; Meloie Nazaire – 36:20; Lyba Khan; and Jennifer Salmeron – 40:39.
This was the last dual meet of the season for the Lady Patriots, who have been preparing for the Northeastern Conference Meet that is scheduled for Saturday at Bradley Palmer State Park in Topsfield. That race will cover a distance of 5K (3.1 miles).
RHS field hockey team
improving game-by-game
Although the Revere High field hockey team came out on the short end of recent contests to Marblehead (3-0), Saugus (2-0), and Swampscott (4-0), RHS head coach Ern Parker has seen many positive signs from her squad.
“Although we lost, we have been improving,” said Parker. “Every time we’ve played a team a second time, we have closed the gap. We have been getting corners and scoring opportunities, but we have to learn how to finish.
“I think that will come with experience,” added Parker, who noted that four new players are on the forward line. “Freshman Allegra Penn and sophomore Sam Woodman have been holding down the back on defense, while our veteran midfield — our three captains, Adanna Hector,Jjasmina Zelkanovic, and Olivia Venezia — keeps the structure and stability for the team.”
Parker and her crew were set to play at Gloucester Monday and at Peabody today (Wednesday).
Barhoum leads way
for boy cross country
Senior Salah Barhoum once again led the way for the Revere High boys cross country team in their meet last week with Peabody. Salah came across the line in third place in a time of 16:26 over a tough, three-mile Peabody course.
Sebastian Mejia was the next Patriot in 18:32, followed by Bounleaing Chea in 19:01, Dominic Giangregorio in 23:49, Ashton Deruosi in 25:25, and Jack Mallen, also in 25:25.
Coach Mike Flynn’s crew have completed their dual meet season and will compete in Saturday’s 5K Northeastern Conference Meet at Bradley Palmer State Park in Topsfield.
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