TURNERS FALLS — A fast start sent the Smith Voc girls soccer team past Franklin County 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.
Ludlow 1, South Hadley 0 — The Tigers couldn’t find the back of the net in their loss to the Lions.
South Hadley goalie Olivia Athas made seven saves in the defeat.
Holyoke 3, Easthampton 2 — Thursday’s Pioneer-North division battle featured four goals in the second half between the two teams, with the Purple Knights walking away with the win.
Kyra Lippman (two goals) and Leilany Figueroa were Holyoke’s goalscorers, while goalie Kyleigh Luther made five saves for the Knights. Figueroa’s tally came in the first half.
Two goals from Arie Kuchyt and two assists from Samone Young led the Eagles on offense. Goalie Noella Ryan recorded five saves, including a stop on a Holyoke penalty kick.
Hampshire 6, Monument Mt. 0 — The Raiders pushed their unbeaten stretch to seven straight after blanking the Spartans.
Hampshire hasn’t loss since its 3-1 defeat to Granby on Sept. 5.
Boys soccer
Ludlow 2, Amherst 0 — Tobin Kaplan grabbed 10 saves, but the Hurricanes fell to the Lions.
Amherst’s winless streak is now at five games.
Monument Mt. 4, Hampshire 0 — The Spartans shut out the Raiders at Dorunda Field.
Hampshire has now lost four consecutive games.
Girls volleyball
Granby 3, Duggan 0 — The Rams ran to a three-set sweep in the road victory.
Leah Charest (nine assists, kill) and Emma Murphy (four kills, ace) highlighted Granby’s win, which bumped up its record to 8-1.
Set scores came in at 25-17, 25-11 and 28-26 in favor of the Rams.
Wahconah 3, Frontier 1 — The Redhawks managed one set win in the road defeat.
Frontier now sits at 3-6 on the season.
SICS 3, Holyoke 2 — The Purple Knights narrowly missed out on their third win in a row in the five-set defeat.
Holyoke dropped to 5-4 overall.
Late Wednesday Results
Cross country
Belchertown 21, Gateway 40
Gateway 18, Veritas 41
Belchertown 15, Veritas 50 (boys): Gateway’s Jacob Maynard won the boys 5k race in 20 minutes, 16 seconds at Littleville Dam on Wednesday.
The Orioles, who took two wins in the tri-meet, had the next four runners cross the finish line, starting with Emmett Howard (second place, 20:21).
