Scholastic Notes

New England region

MASSACHUSETTS

GONSALVES ASSAULTING THE ALL-TIME LEADER BOARD, BUT TEAM GOAL REMAINS

Lauren Gonsalves, the nation's leading goal-scorer, made her share of history in late October her Harwich (Mass.) mates made every attempt to get her the ball in a game against Norwell (Mass.)

She had six goals in a span of 10 minutes as she broke the Massachusetts state goal-scoring record of 141. At the close of the match, she had 49 to lead the nation and she was 12th on the all-time list.

"She has the unique ability to find the goal," legendary Harwich coach Cheryl Poore tells The Boston Globe. "I told the girls to go out there and find her the ball, and they kept feeding it to her. She had the biggest and best smile I'd seen all year."

But there was one other goal for the Rough Riders: a state championship. Harwich is ranked second by the Boston Globe, but the team has never won a state championship.

"We want to go far," Gonsalves tells The Cape Cod Times. "We're just really excited."

WALPOLE LEAVES IT LATE

¯Walpole (Mass.) came to Worcester State College's turf field anticipating a good run-out against Worcester Notre Dame Academy (Mass.), especially considering the 6-0 loss the Porkers hung two years ago.

But Patty Provost's team held on for 50 minutes until surrendering two late Walpole goals in a 2-0 loss.

"I thought our offense delivered, but we just were unable to capitalize. We were right there. Sometimes, it’s the luck of the bounce. The first goal they got — we were all out there — but their shot rebounds off our stick, just off the tip of it, and goes in," Provost tells The Worcester Telegram.

That Liz Malone goal in the 49th minute opened up the game, forcing the Rebels to expose the defense a touch. In the dying minutes, Emily Painten slipped behind the coverage and put the game out of reach.

MAINE

SCARBOROUGH EARNS ITS WAY INTO WESTERN "A" FINAL

Kerry Mariello understated her halftime speech when her Scarborough (Maine) Red Storm team faced longtime powerhouse Gorham (Maine) in the semifinals of the Maine Principals' Association Western Class A tournament.

"We had an opportunity to go somewhere we had never gone before," Mariello tells The Maine Sunday Telegram. "I just put things in perspective for them, tried to get them to believe in themselves. And we came out with a vengeance. It was certainly a great momentum switch."

You see, the Storm has never won a state championship, much less beaten the likes of Gorham.

But Scarborough got second-half goals from Heather Carrier (31st minute) and Nancy Leasure (37th) to beat Gorham 3-2.

For last year's notes, click here.