The Sports Watch for Sept. 19 - 23

It's Sunday, and you know what that means. It's time for the Sports Watch, the fastest three minutes in Weston Sports coming your way right now:

Well, the early battles in the Dual County League are heating up, and the Weston High field hockey team continues to kick things into high gear. With a stunning 3-0 win over visiting Concord-Carlisle, the undefeated Wildcats improved to 4-0-2.

"I thought we played well, we had a great passing game," Weston head coach Laura Galopim said. "It was just flowing."

The Patriots, meanwhile, fell to 2-3 during a campaign in which they already were hampered by injuries in the preseason.

"We did pretty well containing them in the first half, but started missing the midfield connection in the second half," C-C coach Betsy Smith said. "And the space got to be too big between the offense and defense for us to recover any momentum."

The result was many more shots on goal and penalty corners for Weston, which already was playing well with its effective passing. But, as terrific as the 'Cats offense was, their defense played just as much a role in their 1-0 lead at the end of the first half. Senior star captain and midfielder Tanner Skenderian made an outstanding sweep save at the right goal post on a C-C penalty corner.

"It was a great goal-line stand," Galopim said.

Weston junior Sara Coburn shined earning the shutout in net.

C-C also had its share of highlights on the defensive end, none better than the play of senior goalie Caroline Kielar.

"She faced a lot of rocketed shots point blank that she turned away," Smith said.

Smith also lauded the play of C-C senior captain Marin Epstein.

"She's as steady as they come," the coach said. "She's always in the right position."

Weston took the lead on an Ally Gosman strike 3:46 into the first half. Bianca Brueckner got the assist, the first of her two helpers on the day. Brueckner also scored Weston's third goal with 1:53 left in the game.

Senior standout captain and forward Christina Warner gave the Wildcats a 2-0 lead with 7:03 left. The play was set up by a Brueckner feed on the right side to Warner in the middle.

"It was a nice goal, it made me feel better," Galopim said of the insurance strike.

Freshman phenom Elizabeth Dennehy got the assist on Brueckner's strike that sealed the win.

Galopim said Dennehy, who leads Weston with seven goals this season, and fellow freshman Katherine Goguen, have given the 'Cats a huge boost offensively.

"They're both proven players who earned starting spots," the coach said.

Weston already was in good shape with all but three of their starters returning this season. In addition to Dennehy and Goguen, senior midfielder Lily Teplow also won a starting role.

The Wildcats also welcomed the return of senior midfielder Grace McCurdy, who had been ailing with an ankle injury.

"The way she played you would have never known she was injured," Galopim praised. 

To girls soccer we go, where freshman standout Lane Cronin scored two goals and junior captain Maddie Linde also tallied as the host Wildcats defeated Westford Academy, 3-0, at Proctor Field.

With the win, Weston improved to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in the Dual County League.

"Very good game, [we] played well," Weston head coach James Blackwell said. "Lane scored twice and was a threat throughout. [She] had two good goals."

Linde's strike came on a penalty kick.

Alissa Duffey earned the shutout in net. 

Hannah Graves, Julia Lee, and junior captain Amanda Ivey all proved strong in the midfield, while the back four of Aashna Saini, Sarah Peters, Cara Lembo, and senior captain Julia Meehan "played the whole game and defended brilliantly," Blackwell said. 

Meanwhile, the Weston girls volleyball team put forth one of its stronger efforts so far this season in its recent 3-0 win over archrival Wayland, improving to 2-2 overall and 2-1 in the Dual County League.

"This game is usually the one that we get the most fans to because of the big rivalry, and [this one] was no exception," Weston head coach Fabian Ardilla said, after his squad defeated the Warriors by scores of 25-19, 25-15, and 26-24.

With both teams serving well at the start, Weston tallied first, before Wayland went on a three point run. Weston junior captain and outside hitter Sydney Halloran put an end to the streak with a well-placed kill, and then the teams mirrored each other almost point for point until late in the game, when Weston took over in a six-point victory.

In Game 2, the Wildcats continued to shine, bolting to a six-point lead behind the super serve of sophomore setter Paige Gordon, who posted three aces during that stretch. The Wildcats never looked back. Junior libero Dani Silverstein provided "excellent defense," Ardilla said, adding "[our team] looked efficient and cohesive. Nothing hit the floor."

The Wildcats played several of their non-starters in the last game, "and they did well," Ardilla said. "However, some uncompetitive errors led to a struggle that had Wayland up by 10 points."

But, with the Warriors leading, 20-10, Weston turned on the gas, and with clutch serving from junior setter Molly Ludwig and sophomore middle hitter Kacie Wrean, rallied to win, 26-24.

On the night, Halloran finished with 11 kills and two aces.

Gordon had three aces, two kills, and six assists.

Silverstein posted three aces and two kills.

Wrean had seven aces and four kills.

Ludwig registered three aces, two kills, and seven assists.

And freshman outside hitter Gabriella Ardila recorded three aces and three kills.

Weston fell to host Westford, 3-0, in the following match. The Wildcats now stand at 2-3 overall and 2-2 in the DCL.