Chloe Denhart notched a pair of tallies, and the Northampton girls soccer team got its 2021 season underway in impressive fashion behind a 4-1 victory over Granby in a Central League contest Thursday at David Wright Stadium in Northampton.
Denhart got the scoring started in the 17th minute, then added another one to help the Blue Devils take a 3-0 halftime advantage.
“It took us about 20 minutes to put things together,” Northampton coach Vanessa Butynski said. “But we came out of the first half feeling pretty confident about our performance.”
Carolynn Skubiszewski and Sofia Ciaglo also tallied in the win for Northampton. Briana Heafey notched two assists.
Granby’s Dana Chateauneuf notched her team’s lone tally in the second half.
Northampton goalie Ava Azzaro made one save while Gabby Walz recorded 14 for Granby.
Drury 10, Gateway 0 — Amy Fisk and Emersyn Carpenter combined for 16 saves in net for the Gators.
Northampton 5, Monson 1 — John Senn-McNally scored on a free kick and added two assists as the Blue Devils won on the road.
Jimmy Galvin added two goals, and Zeke Kimball contributed a goal and an assist for Northampton.
Ryland Breen scored once, and Emile Roth added an assist.
“We had a lot of possession, we had a lot of chances,” Northampton coach CJ Holt said.
The Blue Devils led 2-0 at the half.
Alex Caldanaro made one save in the first half, and Koa Klose stopped one shot in the second.
It was the first victory at Northampton for Holt, who took over the Blue Devils this season.
Belchertown 1, Minnechaug 0 — Jack Holt tallied the game-winning goal in the second half to help the Orioles clip the Falcons on Thursday.
Dom Mancuso assisted on Holt’s strike. Goalie Jacob Chaisson made four saves to pitch the shutout.
Easthampton 42, Mahar 0 — Easthampton’s Luke Kraus scored four touchdowns, as the visiting Eagles opened the 2021 football season with a 42-0 victory over Mahar in an independent football game played at the Woodward Complex in Orange Thursday night.
Kraus scored two touchdowns on the ground in the first half — one a 56-yard score — to help Easthampton take a 26-0 halftime lead.
On the first play of the third quarter, Kraus intercepted a pass and ran it back for his third score of the night, then capped it with a 13-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Shea Healy.
Giancarlo Osiecki opened the scoring with a two-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Healy opened the second quarter with a 20-yard touchdown scamper of his own.
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Smith Academy 4, E. Longmeadow 1 — Four different players found the back of the net as the Falcons picked up another victory Thursday.
Makena Valentine, Cat Kokoski, Charlotte Hennings and Bella Gavron all tallied for Smith, which led 2-0 at halftime. Valentine and Elena Baranoski dished out assists.
“Worked hard to keep the ball in the circle and in our offensive end,” Smith coach Judy Strong said.
Hadley Szynal made two saves for the Falcons, which moved to 2-0 on the young season.
Amherst 0, Hampshire 0 — It was a defensive battle in Westhampton Thursday, as Amherst and Hampshire Regional finished 0-0 after 60 minutes in a County League contest.
Amherst goalie McKenzie Schreyer made 11 saves to pace her side, while Hampshire’s Olivia Labrie turned away a pair of shots for the shutout.
Franklin Tech 4, Holyoke 0 — Lauren Ross scored a pair of first-half goals while Lilly Ross and Kate Trudeau found the back of the net in the second half to help the Eagles blank the Purple Knight Thursday in Turners Falls.
Franklin Tech held a 9-5 edge in penalty corners. Holyoke goalie Isabella Murphy made seven saves.
Easthampton 3, Sabis 2 — Rina Damon and Marlina Devine combined for 17 kills to help the Eagles score a wild 24-26, 25-19, 26-24, 23-25, 15-11 win on Thursday.
Maggie Barr added seven kills and three blocks for Easthampton. Skylar Raskevitz recorded 28 digs to pace the defense while Delima Fournier dished out 10 assists.
Northampton 14½, Belchertown 9½ — Galen Fowles fired a 4-under-par 32, leading three Northampton players under 40 en route to the victory Thursday at Cold Spring Country Club in Belchertown.
Fowles had four birdies and no bogeys on his card in the No. 1 spot, winning three of the four points in his match against Belchertown’s Ryan O’Neil who shot 1-over 37.
Reilly Fowles shot 1-under 35 at No. 2 for the Devils and also took three points. Teammate Evan Yurko shot 37 and swept four points at No. 3.
Belchertown’s Ben Anderson (41) and Brady Berkins (43) combined for 6½ points.
Chicopee Comp 15½, Amherst 8½ — Piet Hartman notched match medalist honors for the Hurricanes, firing a 37 and nabbing three points in the No. 1 spot during action Thursday at Amherst Golf Club.
Chase Lashway shot 43 and won two points at No. 2 for Amherst, while teammate Nate Hawkins (48) also won two points at No. 4.